Umalusi’s presentation to the Basic Education Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the 2008/9 Annual Report 27 October

1. Umalusi’s presentation to the Basic Education Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the 2008/9 Annual Report 27 October 2009 Dr Mafu S Rakometsi

2. Purpose / Mandate Summarised • External Environment : Impact on Umalusi • Organisational Performance per Unit • Financial Information • Current Issues and Way Forward • Conclusion • Overview

3. While Umalusi has reported against its founding mandate in the 2008 / 2009 annual report it has been mindful of the changes that it would be required to make as it moved towards its role as a Quality Council, the mandate of which became effective on 1 June 2009. Umalusi therefore reports as an organization in transition. Umalusi’s mandate is determined by two Acts namely, the SAQA Act of 1995 now replaced by the National Qualifications Framework Act of 2008; and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act of 2001 amended in 2008. • Purpose / Mandate Summarised

4. Umalusi is tasked with the following: Qualifications: • Monitor and report on the adequacy and suitability of qualifications and standards in general and further education and training; now extended to, • Develop and manage a sub-framework of qualifications in collaboration with SAQA and the other two QCs supported by the necessary policies and processes. Quality Assurance: • Accredit private providers of education and training and assessment; • Promote quality amongst providers and ensure that providers adopt quality management systems; • Quality assure assessments at exit points and certify learner achievement  In the amended mandate these functions have remained the same except that the monitoring of provincial departments of education has been removed. • Monitor provincial departments of education and report to the Minister • Purpose / Mandate Summarised 2

5. Purpose / Mandate Summarised 3 Information Maintain a database of learner achievements and related matters; and submit such data in a format determined in consultation with the SAQA for recording on the national learners’ records database – this requirement has remained the same Research While Umalusi has always grounded its work in research this function was only formalised under the new and extended mandate, which requires Umalusi to commission and publish research on issues of importance to the development and implementation of the sub-framework

6. Advice and Collaboration Omitted in the founding mandate but included in the amended mandate is the formalization of relationships which include: • Advice to the relevant Minister on matters relating to its sub-framework • Collaboration with the SAQA and other QCs in terms of the education and training system • Establishment of co-operative relationships with professional bodies • Advocacy of the sub-framework of qualifications • Purpose / Mandate Summarised 4

7. While maintaining the “old” and routine quality assurance work Umalusi has also had to accommodate development of functions to support the “new” and extended mandate and much of what has been reported is associated with the transition. Certain aspects in the macro environment that have affected Umalusi are as follows: • The passing of the NQF Act in 2009; changes in the roles and responsibilities of the various bodies in the quality assurance landscape; • The amendment of the GENFETQA Act in 2008; the extended mandate which has required more capacity and a review of Umalusi’s positions and approaches; • The amendment of the Skills Development Act and the establishment of the QCTO with new approaches that impact on the work of Umalusi; • Amendment of the HE Act with approaches that impact on Umalusi’s work; • External Environment : Impact on Umalusi

8. The introduction of two new and high profile qualifications during this time namely the National Senior Certificate to replace the old Senior Certificate and the National Certificate: Vocational to replace the old National Technical Certificates; • A change in Chief Executive Officers towards the end of the 2008 / 2009 financial year • Not anticipated in 2008, was the splitting of the Education Ministry which has placed Umalusi in the position of straddling the education and training system in respect of its quality assurance work, reporting lines and funding streams; • External Environment : Impact on Umalusi

9. Umalusi believes that educational standards and quality are set and maintained through a combination of processes and interventions and designed its rigorous quality assurance regime for 2008 to encompass the following: • Evaluation and benchmarking of existing qualifications and curricula (Intended curriculum) and issuing authentic certificates • Ensuring through external moderation processes and benchmarking that assessments at exit points are of an acceptable standard and that the examinations are conducted in a credible manner through verifying the national and provincial monitoring systems (Examined curriculum) • Ensuring that standardisation processes are reliable, consistent and standardisation decisions upheld • Accrediting private institutions (schools, FET colleges and Adult Centres), and private assessment bodies to offer / assess the qualifications it certifies (Enacted curriculum) • Umalusi’s Quality Assurance Regime 2008

10. The role of QCC is to ensure and enhance the status and quality of the qualifications Umalusi certifies. Quality assuring the qualifications and their related curricula is QCC’s contribution to the overall quality of the certificate which Umalusi issues. This function also oversees the issuing and verification of certificates. (Qualifications: SC; NSC; N3; NCV 2 and 3; GETC: adults) • Qualifications, Curriculum & Certification Unit (QCC)

11. Qualifications, Curriculum & Certification

12. This function entails establishing, maintaining and improving standards and quality in assessment at exit points in General and Further Education and Training. In order to fulfil this function, Umalusi uses five key processes: • external moderation of question papers; • verification of monitoring the conduct of examinations; • external moderation of marking; • external moderation of continuous assessment; and • standardisation of assessment results. (Qualifications: SC; NSC; N3; NCV 2 and 3; GETC: adults) • Quality Assurance of Assessments Unit (QAA)

13. Quality Assurance of Assessment

14. Quality Assurance of Assessments

15. Quality Assurance of Assessments

16. The evaluation and accreditation function is responsible for the accreditation and monitoring of private institutions offering the qualifications Umalusi certifies. The unit evaluates, • The capacity of education and training providers to implement registered qualifications and approved curriculum they seek accreditation for; and • The capacity of providers and assessment bodies to conduct practical, internal, and external assessment of learner achievement, leading to the issuing of registered qualifications by Umalusi. • Evaluation and Accreditation Unit • (E&A)

17. Evaluation and Accreditation of Private Providers

18. Evaluation and Accreditation of Private Providers

19. Evaluation and Accreditation of Assessment Bodies

20. The mandate of the SIR unit is to conduct research as identified by the needs of the organisation and report on the key indicators of quality and standards in general and further education and training; the establishment and maintenance of databases; to lead statistical research and analysis; and to inform and provide statistical support for the work in other units. The SIR Unit also plays a role in organizational and professional development at Umalusi. • Statistical Information and Research Unit • (SIR)

21. Statistical Information and Research

22. Management Support Structures (MSS) Management Support Structures ensures that: • Strategic plans are in place and that the organisation carries out its remit • Corporate Governance • Advocacy of Umalusi’s work • Stakeholders relationships

23. Management Support Structures

24. Information Technology Systems

25. Finance, HRD & Admin Support

26. Financial Performance 2008/9

27. Financial Position 2008/9

28. Total Income 2000/1 ( actual) to 2012/13 ( budget)

29. Certification of 2008 learners: Certification was concluded in August 2009 - normally done in May /June - due to a revised look and format required by the Minister of Education • Later release of 2009 Matric results: This was agreed to ensure that Umalusi has the space to assure the resulting process before approval of results – new initiative to strengthen the quality assurance process • Current Issues and the Way Forward

30. Umalusi’s line of accountability: Split Ministry has placed Umalusi in a straddled position i.r.o its sub-framework of qualifications and quality assurance thereof • Funding model: With the declining grant percentage Umalusi has proposed to NDoE for a move from a certification fee to a Quality Assurance Levy • Current Issues and the Way Forward

31. The NQF review finalization is welcomed - consultative processes have begun with the Departments of Basic and Higher Education, DOL(QCTO), and related stakeholders. • Thanks to the Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Ms F I Chohan and her members for their support. • Conclusion