Question NW1911 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
14 July 2017 - NW1911
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)Whether his department has estimated the extent of the capital budget(s) needed to assist technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in order to (a) renew and maintain equipment and (b) train students for the industry in accordance with the current curricula; if not, why not; if so, what total amount is needed to (i) address any backlogs and (ii) annually replace and/or maintain equipment and other assets needed for training purposes; (2) (a)(i) what percentage and (ii) what amount of the required funds is his department currently making available to TVET colleges and (b) from what year onwards will his department be addressing any backlogs and current needs; (3) (a) will TVET colleges receive infrastructure grants in the future and (b) on what date are they expected to start receiving infrastructure grants?
Reply:
1. (a) The Department has secured donor funding from the European Union to conduct a full audit and verification of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college infrastructure, which will be based on the National Infrastructure Management Standards as set by the Department of Public Works.
The intention is to conduct the audit in the 3rd and 4th quarter of this financial year. The capital budgets required to renew and maintain TVET college equipment will be available once the audit of infrastructure is complete.
(b) Currently college workshops are by-and-large equipped to deal with the practical National Certificate (Vocational) programmes and Integrated Summative Assessment Tasks that form part of the external examinations. There have however been plant and equipment challenges when colleges over-enrol in certain programmes. This practice has been curbed since the 2016 planning year.
The Report 191 programmes are largely theoretical in nature. However, with the introduction of the new occupational programmes, significant equipment upgrades will be required. This has not yet been quantified in total, as the implementation will be done systematically over the next year. The first major pilot programmes are now unfolding and will provide estimates of funding required.
2. (a) Budgets to TVET colleges and provision for maintenance and repairs:
|
(i) 2015/16 |
(ii) 2016/17 |
|||||
|
Compensation of Employee Costs R’000 |
Subsidy Allocation R’000 |
Total 2015/16 R’000 |
Compensation of Employee Costs R’000 |
Subsidy Allocation R’000 |
Total 2016/17 R’000 |
|
|
National Budget Total: TVET College |
4 943 262 |
1 140 945 |
6 084 207 |
5 168 971 |
1 274 848 |
6 443 819 |
|
2017/18 |
|||
|
Compensation of Employee Costs R’000 |
Subsidy Allocation R’000 |
Total 2017/18 R’000 |
|
|
National Budget Total: TVET College |
5 535 383 |
1 328 096 |
6 863 479 |
Note:
Compensation of Employee Costs are salary related costs of all college employees who are appointed to offer Ministerial approved programmes, i.e. National Certificate (Vocational) and NATED programmes. The budget is retained by the Department to pay for the salaries related to these employees.
Subsidy Allocation: This allocation is transferred to the colleges to cover for operational costs. In terms of the National Norms and Standards for Funding TVET Colleges, colleges are required to set aside 10% of their subsidy allocation to cover costs towards maintenance.
It should be noted that since 2009, no earmarked capital infrastructure allocations have been received from National Treasury. Colleges are therefore expected to prioritise for the maintenance of infrastructure from their subsidy allocation, which is insufficient to provide for the effective maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure.
(b) As indicated above, the current funding is insufficient and additional funding is required to be able to provide TVET colleges with earmarked capital allocations to take care of backlogs and current needs.
(3) At present there are no funds available in the baseline budget for infrastructure grants. The Department continuously submits bids to National Treasury for additional Infrastructure Grants. Due to the current fiscal climate, no additional funds have been secured.
COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS: Mr S Mommen/Ms D Masipa /Ms A Singh/Ms G Magnus
EXT: 5458/5129/5791/5756
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
QUESTION 1911 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE: