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DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING BRIEFING ON PROGRESS ON THE MIGRATION OF ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING (AET) AND TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET)SECTORS
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DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING BRIEFING ON PROGRESS ON THE MIGRATION OF ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING (AET) AND TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET)SECTORS Joint Meeting of the Select Committee on Education and Recreation, Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training and Portfolio Committee on Basic Education Briefing on Progress on the Migration of Adult Education and Training (AET) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Sectors Joint Meeting of the Portfolio Committees of Higher Education and Training and Basic Education 04 March 2015
Introduction and Background Practical Implications • Functions performed by 9 MECs shifted to 1 Minister • Functions performed by 9 HODs shifted to 1 Director-General • Provincial AET and TVET unit staff previously employed by PEDs now to be employed by DHET • Most staff previously employed by 50 TVET Colleges and AET Centres will be employed by the DHET Objectives • Removes all references to provincial authority • Assigns functions previously assigned to the MEC to the Minister • Removes all references to ‘‘HOD’’ and replaces them with ‘‘DG” • Provides afresh for the appointment of staff Outcomes FETCA Act, 2012 • Act on transitional measures introduced and date of commencement determined by Minister + 9 Regional Offices + 50 TVET Colleges with 264 Campuses • Effective transfer of TVET and AET Functions + 9 CET Colleges with 3 150 Community Learning Centres
Dates of Signature: Addenda to the TVET and AET Implementation Protocols
2013 Finance Consultative Process • DHET informed Technical Committee on Finance (TCF) on 1 October 2013 of the following: • Compliance matters, FET Act requirements and Funding norms needs to be considered when the TVET function shifts • Approach and formula used to determine the administration portion of the provincial budgets related to the TVET function shift = R391.659 million, Calculation of Principals and Deputy Principals paid through P1 and not P5 – All provinces except for EC, NC and WC = R98.521 million and Provincial staff cost for TVET Unit (included in Admin portion to be shifted) = R53.150 million • Discrepancies with inputs received from 6 PEDs = R328.840 million variance • Decision at TCF • National Treasury will lead a process with Provincial Treasuries to develop their informed response • A task team to be led by Mr Sishi from the National Treasury to consolidate the position of Provincial Treasuries will be formed • The task team will consult with the DHET, should it be deemed necessary • National Treasury will report through the DG: NT to the DG: DHET
2013 Finance Consultative Process • Consultations took place with the DG: National Treasury on 25 Oct 2013 • Advice was to obtain information to fill the gaps • Consultations took place with the FFC on 31 Oct 2013 • Consultations took place with the FFC on 5 Nov 2013 • It was agreed that updated information be obtained from PEDs with the concurrence of the Provincial Treasuries • FFC indicated that the commission supports the function shift with effect from 1 April 2014 but cautioned the DHET not to shift without sufficient funds • Letters were sent on 5 Nov 2013 to HODs of Education Departments, Provincial Treasuries and CFOs of Education Departments requesting the following inputs to be submitted on 14 Nov 2013: • The cost element in a matrix fashion listing salary levels on one scale and all Corporate Service Support functions rendered by PEDs on the other scale. • Provincial posts to be transferred i.e. TVET units’ posts • Cost associated with management staff in FET colleges i.e. Principals and Deputy Principals • Budgets allocated to TVET units for goods and services • The relevant letters were also copied to the Department of Basic Education • Inputs were received from Mpumalanga, Limpopo and WC = Total administration budget to be shifted = R5.974 million
2013 Letter from DG: National Treasury • To meet the function shift deadline DHET should consult with FFC and all processes related to a function shift including consultation and agreement with provinces must be concluded and actual funds to be shifted must be approved and tabled in the TCF • Engagements between National Treasury and DHET reflects that DHET has not duly completed and finalised the process of function shifts to date • The lack of agreement over the technical principles is a concern as there is a significant gap between what provinces are indicating should be shifted and what DHET has calculated • If DHET intends to proceed with an effective function shift date of 1 April 2014, National Treasury will continue to assist the Department but will not allow the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) system and legal framework to be undermined. • To ensure compliance, two issues must be considered • Without agreement with provinces – DHET should accept what is currently available in terms of PEDs’ financial and human resources as determined by the provinces; and • Budgets are very tight and should there be a shortfall in the transferred amounts DHET will not be able to use the current or future budget processes to request additional funding.
2013 Way Forward after Finance Consultations • DHET will inform the Minister of Higher Education and Training of the current situation • Draft conditional grant amendments were submitted to National Treasury as required • Discussions are to take place with National Treasury to receive an earmarked allocation to: • Ensure the effective management and monitoring of the grant; and • To assist with the process to ensure that the function can be shifted on 1 April 2015. • DHET undertook to continue to pursue discussions with FFC to find a way in which this process can be simplified as it is difficult to get agreement from 9 PEDs and 9 Provincial Treasuries. • The scenario approach was developed and shared with the PEDs and Provincial Treasuries and provided the budget determination model for consultation during 2014
Update on CET Colleges • Community Colleges Policy • The draft national policy on community colleges gazetted for consultation. • Public comments have been obtained and analysed. Revised policy is being prepared for approval by the Minister and final publication. • CETC Service Level Agreements • Discussions with partners who will house CETCs’ offices have been finalised. • An ‘in principle’ agreement has been reached with the various partners on access to their infrastructure for CETC administrative offices. • Task Team on Community Colleges • The DG has established a task team to advise on: • The ideal Community Colleges’ Model in South Africa; and • Piloting of CETCs processes. • The task team is drawn from the AET stakeholders (i.e. Universities’ AET, NGOs in the field, Adult Learning Network). • Organised labour to be engaged through the bargaining processes.
Update on establishments of CETCS Challenges • Non-completion and sign-off by PEDs in regards to completing and signing-off protocol Annexures may have serious implications and consequences for Provinces in regards to non-compliance with the Protocol. • Delays are likely to be experienced in the transfer of Provincial TVET Unit and AET staff to DHET due to incomplete and/or inaccurate information (i.e. Annexures not submitted and staff lists not signed off by HODs). The PEDs will have to continue paying employees and claim back from DHET. • Procurement of office accommodation for PED unit staff delayed as procurement can only happen when the funds are transferred to DHET. • Delayed merger of AET centres into Community Colleges due to inadequate verified information. • Transfer of AET examinations functions from 1 April 2015 due to the split and use of staff across various functions for examination related tasks in PEDs cannot be replicated in DHET. • Delays may be experienced by DHET in uploading about 7 500 AET abnormal appointments and periodical remuneration as they need to be uploaded manually.
Update on establishments of CETCS Risks • Constraints in taking over AET exams from the PEDs as initially planned. DHET’s capacity to run effective AET examinations is constrained by the allocated budget. • Possible delays in the appointment of college paid personnel and extraordinary appointed AET personnel on PERSAL. • Possible delays in capturing and processing of payments and deductions. • In the absence of signed-off Annexures, there is no adequate disclosure. Financial implications associated with the function shift are not adequately disclosed. This may have consequences down the line and PEDs will have to justify disclosure in terms of Annexures in the event of a dispute. • Where PEDs have not effected the PERSAL transfer the person may not appear on the DHET payroll but remain in the PED.
Update on establishments of CETCS Mitigation Steps • Devolve some of the activities to the centres (e.g. marking and provisioning of stationery). Reduction of the frequency of exam cycles to one cycle per year and source more funding for AET examinations to augment capacity and infrastructure. • Arrangements to be made with TVET colleges and PEDs to continue paying salaries of staff whose uploading onto PERSAL has been delayed on the basis that DHET will reimburse colleges and/or PEDs. • Engagements with HRA to fast-track appointment of the additional staff requested. Increase internship intake to enhance capacity. • The Minister has communicated the implications of non-compliance to MECs through letters. • Letters to HODs to comply with the protocol Annexures have been prepared and sent to HODs.
Update on establishments of CETCS Function Shift Transitional Approach Five Major Sub-Projects critical to the sustainable success of the Function Shift have been identified : On-Going DHET Operations (Operational Management Focus Areas) Function Shift Interventions (Finance, HRA, Movable Assets, Immovable Assets, IT) *Staff Uploading onto PERSAL: Staff Verified, Posts Created, Staff Uploaded *TVET Colleges PERSAL Connectivity: Assessment, Agreement, Installation *Appointment of new staff: Posts Identified, Advertised, Staff Appointed *Secure office accommodation: Arrangements with PEDs Finalised, Offices Secured *AET Examinations: Engage NT, Decide on Arrangements, Take Over Exams
