Question NW25 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
26 February 2018 - NW25
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
Whether the Central Johannesburg Technical and Vocational Education and Training College has sufficient equipment to teach practical skills in all fields; if not, what (a) are the details of all the equipment that is in shortage and (b) plans have been put in place to address all equipment shortages; (2) Whether her department is aware of any cases where the specified college awarded students marks for the practical component of a course where no actual practical teaching took place; if not, (3) Does she have any intention of investigating whether such practices take place at the specified college; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) Whether any equipment was lost due to theft at the specified college (a) in the (i) 2015, (ii) 2016 and (iii) 2017 academic years and (b) since 1 January 2018; if so, what (aa) are the relevant details, (bb) steps have been taken to apprehend the thieves and (cc) action has been taken to replace the stolen equipment?
Reply:
1. The Central Johannesburg TVET College offers a range of business, engineering and services-related programmes. The Principal of the College has indicated that not all workshops and laboratories used for the teaching of practical skills across the various fields are fully equipped with machines, tools and relevant equipment.
a) The kitchens for the Hospitality programmes need to be refurbished as this programme was relocated to the old Wits Hotel School from the Smit Street campus as the previous building was expropriated and demolished for the Gautrain project.
The ICT infrastructure needs recapitalisation and modernisation.
The key concern for the Engineering programmes is the procurement of Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM).
The Fitting and Motor Mechanic workshops require replacement of tools and machinery due to it being missing or obsolete.
b) The College included the refurbishment of the kitchens in its 2018 Strategic Plan, pending the availability of funds.
The College is in the final stages of a tender process for the recapitalisation of its ICT infrastructure. This project, once completed early in 2018, will have addressed all ICT related issues across all campuses and programmes.
The College Council recently approved that campuses may procure LTSM to a maximum of R30 000 to expedite the provision of LTSM.
Since 2016, the College has procured some tools and equipment for the Motor Mechanic workshops. Earlier this year, the Ford Motor Company donated three new vehicles to the College for teaching and learning purposes. The College is also in discussions with ABB South Africa for similar donations to its Alexandra campus.
2. The College and Department are not aware of cases where students were awarded marks for the practical component of a course where no actual practical teaching took place.
3. If more detail is provided on the incident, the Principal and Department will investigate and take appropriate action.
4. According to the Principal, who assumed office on 01 April 2016, some staff members verbally alleged that some equipment was lost/misplaced/unaccounted. To date, no evidence has been provided by these staff members.
(a) (i) Detailed information regarding allegations of lost/stolen assets are not readily available for 2015 and 2016. The Department will investigate and revert back in due course.
(ii) The Principal’s report indicates that in 2016, a staff member made allegations against a Campus Manager at the Ellis Park Campus involving two missing sofas and a lawn mower. This was investigated and evidence was provided that the sofas were being re-upholstered. The service provider would not release the sofas as there was a misunderstanding regarding the quotation. Payment was effected and the sofas were returned to the College.
The service provider who repaired the lawnmower wanted payment before releasing the machine. Payment was effected and the lawnmower was returned to the College.
The above report was provided to the complainant but he was not satisfied with the explanation. The Principal has requested the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) specialists deployed at colleges to investigate this matter. The College is still awaiting this report.
(b) The College had three incidents of armed robbery and theft of computers at the Crown Mines campus over a 12 month period.
The College also had an incident of an armed robbery at the Troyeville campus during the early hours of 6 November 2016 where approximately 150 computers were stolen.
(aa) The armed robberies apparently involved groups of 10-12 heavily armed men who overpowered the night guards and locked down the sites.
(bb) These cases were reported to the South African Police Services.
(cc) The College has revised its security arrangements and is in the process of installing updated surveillance and monitoring equipment, and improving access control. The College has also replaced all the stolen computers.
COMPILER DETAILS
NAME AND SURNAME: MS ARUNA SINGH
CONTACT: 012 312 5149
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Minister signs Parliamentary Question 25.
MR GF QONDE
DIRECTOR–GENERAL: HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DATE:
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION 25 IS APPROVED / NOT APPROVED / AMENDED.
COMMENTS
PROF HB MKHIZE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DATE: