Progress report on the issuing of outstanding National Certificate Vocational certificates

1. Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training 03 June 2015 Progress report on the issuing of outstanding National Certificate Vocational certificates

2. Presentation Outline • 1. Legislation and Policy • 2. Background • 3. Challenges • Backlog Status • 5. Conclusion

3. Legislation and Policy • General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance (GENFETQA) Act, 2001 (Act no. 58 of 2001, as amended 2008) - The Department of Higher Education and Training is the national assessment body for Vocational and Continuing Education and Training qualifications - A Quality Council approves the publication of the results of learners and takes responsibility for the certification of learners • National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Act, 2008 (Act No. 67 of 2008) - Umalusi is the Quality Council for the General and Further Education and Training • In terms of national policy, certificates should be issued within 3 months after the release of results

4. Background • Following the introduction of Report (191) programmes in 1998, the Council of Education Ministers resolved that the entire Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College examination function should become a national competency • The then Department of Education introduced a new qualification in the form of the National Certificate (Vocational) in 2007, which would also be resulted and certified at the national level • Examinations for TVET Colleges are conducted seven times a year and twice for Adult Education and Training, with candidates being resulted and certificated in each of these nine examination cycles

5. Background • In order to fulfil the responsibilities inherent in being the examining body, the Department relies on Information Technology services from the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) to operationalise the national examination processes of TVET Colleges • This includes amongst others, the registration of candidates for examinations, to the issuance of results and certification of candidates • On completion of an examination cycle, all candidates have a legitimate expectation to receive their complete and correct statement of results, and a certificate if they have met the full requirements of the qualification

6. Background • From 2007 to 2010, the assessment body processed, resulted and issued certificates for the National Certificate Vocational qualification • In 2010, Umalusi was requested by the Minister to fulfil its certification responsibility as mandated in the GENFETQA Act, which required Umalusi to certificate candidates for the 2007-2009 period • Negotiations was undertaken with Umalusi on the process to be followed • Enhancements were made to the examination information system, managed and maintained by SITA, to incorporate Umalusi’s certification requirements

7. Challenges • Instability of datasets submitted by SITA to Umalusi, which is then rejected by the quality assurance and certification body • Inappropriate Information Technology systems at SITA for the National Certificate (Vocational) [NC(V)] qualification • Allocation of insufficient human resources by SITA for the TVET College examination system resulting in delays in rectifying identified errors • Resulted in the backlog of NC(V) certification from 2007 - 2011 • Several engagements have taken place between the Department, Umalusi and SITA • A management plan was developed to resolve the backlog of certificates • SITA has made numerous commitments, however they have been able to honour these commitments

8. Progress on Key Performance Indicators Backlog Status • All Report 190/1 candidates for Business and Engineering Studies are issued with their qualifications within 3-months • 496 544 NC(V) certificates have been issued since the backlog project began in 2012 • In the main NC(V) candidates who have completed their full qualification in asingleexamination cycle have been certificated to date • The outstanding certificates are owed to candidates who have completed their qualification across more than oneexamination cycle due to the examinations information system being unable to combine the subject results from different examination cycles when a candidate qualifies for certification

9. Backlog Status • From March 2015 to April 2015, 30 545 NC(V) certificates have been issued • As at 30 April 2015: 103 195 NC(V) certificates were still outstanding • November 2007 to Supplementary 2012: 15 099 certificates • November 2012 to Supplementary 2014: 88 096 certificates • November 2013 and 2014 data is currently being processed for certification • The datasets for the 103 195 NC(V) certificates is currently being verified and based on the feedback from Umalusi, more definitive timelines will be set to finally address this backlog

10. Progress on Key Performance Indicators November 2007 - Supplementary 2012

11. Progress on Key Performance Indicators November 2012 - Supplementary 2014

12. Conclusion • Since 2012, 496 544 certificates have been issued with 103 195 certificates still being processed • The students affected by the problem do have statements of results and the Department, on request, provides students with letters confirming that they comply with the requirements for the issuance of a certificate • Potential employers and institutions of higher learning are provided with the necessary verifications and supporting letters on request so that students are not disadvantaged • The Department continues working closely with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and Umalusi to resolve this backlog • Through a procurement process, the appointment of a Service Provider is being finalised

13. Thank You