Department of Higher Education and Training Annual Report 2011/12

1. ANNUAL REPORT 2011/12 DEPARTMENT HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING Presentation to the Select Committee on Education and Recreation 6 March 2013

2. Presentation Outline • Background Information • Performance on Predetermined Objectives • Financial Statements • Auditor-General Report

3. Background Information • The 2011/12 Annual Report is the second report post the split of the Department of Education • The Annual Report includes the following information: • - General information • Information on predetermined objectives • Annual Financial Statements • Human Resources Management

4. Background Information • National Skills Fund: Performance information and annual financial statements is incorporated • Department of Education: The Department is still listed in Schedule 1 of the Public Service Act as a functional Department. All outstanding balances have been closed by 31 March 2012 and balances that could not be cleared were transferred to the Departments of Basic Education as well as Higher Education and Training • Predetermined objectives: • - Key achievements • - Status of targets • Challenges experienced • Measures put in place

5. Programme 1: Administration • Purpose: To conduct the overall management of the Department and provide centralised support services • Key Achievements: • The focus for 2011/12 was to build on the work that commenced during 2010/11 and put the necessary administrative systems, policies and procedures into place, as well as to provide core capacity for the smooth running of the department • 187 Posts were identified to be filled with 133 appointments made and 54 posts were in the process of being filled

6. Programme 1: Administration • Staff turnover has been reduced from 12% to 7.6% • A number of policies were developed and approved in Information Communication Technology, Human Resources and Supply Chain Management (3, 16 and 8 respectively) • Call centre has continued to provide a meaningful service to citizens by responding to 95% of the Presidential Hotline queries • Macro-organisational structure approved and consulted with MPSA

7. Programme 1: Administration • Human Resource and Employment Equity Plans approved • 27 Posts for regional offices created and started filling posts for KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Western Cape • 6 Disciplinary hearings with 3 dismissals related to mismanagement of funds • Challenges: • ICT services – LAN and Desktop support has been slow in addressing user calls • Training levels of the security staff needs to be improved

8. Programme 1: Administration • Lack of modern call centre technology and inadequate facilities for call centre operators • Procurement of new offices did not materialise • No risk management unit • Mitigation: • Appoint an external service provider for LAN and end-to-end user desktop support • Increased capacity in security advisory services and provide training • Develop a new integrated system for the Call Centre • Acquisition of land for office construction • Contract appointment for risk management

9. Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination • Purpose: To provide strategic direction in the development, implementation and monitoring of the Department policies. Coordinate activities in relation to the HRDS for South Africa • Budget sub-programmes: • Human Resource Development, Strategic Planning and Coordination • Planning, Information, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordination • International Relations • Legal and Legislative Services • Social Inclusion in Education

10. Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination • Key Achievements: • Work on the integrated information system continued and three integrated strategic information systems, namely Higher Education and Training Management Information System, Labour Market Intelligence System (LMIS) and Career Advice System are being built • The Information Framework and Career Advice Services Framework were developed • Education Policy of 2004 was updated • Partnership with HSRC to conduct research for LMIS • UNESCO data mission hosted and data plan for SA developed

11. Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination • Data collection of FET and Artisan sectors was strengthened and an electronic web based data collection system was developed • DHET hosted IBSA Academic Forum • Study visits were undertaken for accessing and sharing best practices, enhance cooperation with Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Oman, Cuba, Rwanda, and Burundi • Agreements of cooperation were signed with Cuba, Rwanda and Burundi • A new trilateral cooperation project supported by USAID was approved

12. Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination • Higher Education Laws Amendment Bill, 2011 and Skills Development Bill 2011, were promulgated • Further Education and Training Colleges Amendment Bill, 2011 were approved by both houses of Parliament • 3 Sets of Regulations and 8 notices were drafted and published • 42 Legal opinions were drafted or vetted • 60 Agreements were drafted and/or vetted • 24 Court cases administered • Supported the establishment of the Ministerial Task Team on Recognition of Prior Learning and received public submissions on the proposed qualifications sub- frameworks

13. Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination • Challenges: • No major challenges, all programmes operated on a reduced and constrained budget • 43 Targets were fully achieved, 9 targets partially achieved and 1 target not achieved • Some of the targets were not achieved within the programme as a result of capacity constraints: • - Director only assumed duty on the 1September 2011 • - Deputy Director was temporarily seconded to another unit

14. Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination • Mitigation: • Seconded Deputy Director is back within the Branch • To date 2 of these targets have been achieved and remaining 8 will be achieved before the end of the financial year

15. Programme 3: University Education • Purpose: To develop and coordinate policy and regulatory frameworks for an effective and efficient university education system. To provide financial support to universities, the National Student Financial Scheme and the National Institute for Higher Education • Budget sub-programmes: • Academic Planning and Management Support • Financial Planning and Information Systems • University Subsidies • Policy and Development • Teacher Education

16. Programme 3: University Education • Key Achievements: • Enrolments increased from 892 936 in 2010 to 938 201 in 2011 • Graduates increased from 153 325 in 2010 to 160 626 in 2011 • Students funded through NSFAS increased from 148 387 in 2010 to 216 874 in 2011. • The Ministerial Statement on Enrolment Planning in Universities for 2011/12-2013/14 was approved and communicated to all universities • Approved Project Plan, Project Management Team and Project Steering Committee to oversee the establishment of the two new universities

17. Programme 3: University Education • Final draft of the Policy framework for the provision of distance higher education in South Africa was submitted to the Minister for approval to publish in government gazette for public comment • Review of the funding framework almost complete and report to be finalised and presented to the Minister by November 2012 • Project plan for the establishment of a national Central Application Service was developed and work has started • Report of the Ministerial Committee for the Review of the Provision of Student Housing at South African Universities was launched

18. Programme 3: University Education • Implementation of Phase 3 of the Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme was successfully implemented • National Transformation Seminar was held as follow-up to Higher Education Stakeholder Summit held in 2010 • Launch of the Ministerial panel on African languages • Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and Development in South Africa (2011-2025) was published and launched • Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEQ) published in the Government Gazette as policy and implementation started • The draft Minimum Requirements for FET College Lecturer Qualifications was completed and ready to publish for public comment

19. Programme 3: University Education • Foundation Phase Teacher Education was strengthened: • - 14 Universities offering Foundation Phase Teacher Education programmes with 6 preparing to offer these programmes by 2014 • - 24 New childhood education academics employed at universities • - 13 Research and development projects involving 20 universities supported • - Publication of 33 journal articles • - Scholarship support for 4 Honours students, 34 MEd students and 39 PhD students

20. Programme 3: University Education • - South African Journal for Childhood Education (SAJE) supported and launched with two editions published • South African Association for Research in Early Childhood Education (SAARECE) established • Challenges: • 3 Universities were placed under administration (University of Zululand; Tshwane University of Technology, Walter Sisulu University) and independent assessments in 2 other universities (Vaal University of Technology and Central University of Technology) were undertaken

21. Programme 3: University Education • 29 Targets were fully achieved, 26 targets partially achieved and 10 targets not achieved • Staff shortages remain the biggest internal challenge • Mitigation: • To date 11 of these targets have been achieved, 19 partially achieved and 6 not achieved • Increase capacity in the Branch (4 Director posts have been advertised in this regard) • Improved communication and relations with universities

22. Programme 3: University Education • Improved monitoring and evaluation measures, including implementation of new reporting regulations and criteria for earmarked grants • Strengthen relations with CHE and SAQA with respect to their responsibilities as described in the NQF Act to ensure better alignment with the DHET objectives • Improve performance management in certain sections of the Branch

23. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • Purpose: To plan, develop, evaluate, monitor and maintain national policy, programmes and systems for vocational and continuing education and training, including further education and training colleges and post-literacy Adult Education • Budget sub-programmes: • Planning and institutional support • Programmes and qualification • National examinations and assessment

24. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • Key Achievements: • Student numbers increased from 345 566 in 2010 to 396 819 in 2011 • Students funded through NSFAS increased from 64 527 in 2010 to 165 273 in 2011 • The Community Education and Training Centres and the conversion of Public FET Colleges into VCET Institutions has been gazetted as delivery institutions for the VCET sector for public comment • The National Senior Certificate for Adults was published for public comment

25. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • An additional National Certificate (Vocational) programme, namely Transport and Logistics has been introduced • A Ministerial Task Team was established to review the NCV qualifications at levels 2-4 • The curriculum for an additional programme, namely Primary Health was completed in partnership with the HWSETA and the Department of Health for implementation in 2013 • Internal Continuous Assessment (ICASS) guidelines were developed to strengthen the NCV delivery • 826 Lecturers trained to improve teaching and learning

26. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • Access into FET colleges was significantly expanded through the R1.270 billion bursary allocation awarded to 165 273 students enrolled in the state-subsidized programmes • The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) has assumed the role of quality assurance for N4-N6, including the National Diploma in Report 191 • On-site training of NC(V) Level 4 and ABET-GETC Level Panel is in setting of question papers and site-based assessments tasks was held

27. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • 9 National Examination Cycles were held (7 were for FET College sector, and 2 for AET) with the following achievements: • - Registration of 866 491 candidates for National Examination • - Monitoring and registration of 382 Public and Private examinations centres • - Setting and moderation of 1 417 question papers and 65 site-based assessment tasks • - Printing, packing and distribution of question papers for the FET College sector

28. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • - Marking of 2.5 million scripts for the FET College sector • - Capturing of 5.08 million marks for the FET College candidates • - Monitoring of examination centres during the conduct of examinations and marking sessions throughout the year • - Standardisation of all examination marks • - Resulting and partial certification of candidates for the FET college sector • - Enrolment rates rose by 34% from 2011

29. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • - The success rates based on November 2011 results showed an improvement in success rates from an average 24% in 2010 to 40% in 2011 across levels • In regulating private FET colleges, the following were achieved: • - 501 Private colleges were registered • - 123 Private colleges were registered as examination centres • - Compliance and performance reports on 384 provisionally registered colleges • - Identification of 28 illegally operating private colleges and the arrest of their managers

30. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • Challenges: • Capacity constraints were experienced in the areas of on-site security, staff allocation and budget allocation in regard to the examination function • 42 Targets were fully achieved, 15 targets partially achieved and 13 targets not achieved • Delays in securing the National Treasury Technical Assistance Unit to provide technical expertise in scoping and supporting the move of the provincial VCET functions, budgets and personnel to the Department

31. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • Continued operation of unregistered private institutions • Lack of readiness across the AET system to implement the funding norms for public Adult Learning Centres • SITA inability to deliver on the Service Level Agreement • Delays in certification of FET College candidates • Mitigation: • To date 11 of these targets have been achieved, 9 partially achieved and 8 not achieved • Turnaround strategy developed for FET Colleges and AET

32. Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • Chief Financial Officers appointed in FET Colleges in collaboration with SAICA • Human Resource and Labour Relations managers appointed to facilitate staff appointments • UNISA-DHET Task Team currently undertaking an audit of FET national examination processes to facilitate, review and advise on the national examination function

33. Programme 5: Skills Development • Purpose: To promote and monitor the National Skills Development Strategy • Budget sub-programmes: • SETA Coordination • National Skills Development Services • Quality Development and Promotion

34. Programme 5: Skills Development • Key Achievements : • The National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) was partly operationalised and appointed as the first assessment quality partner for the QCTO • 13 168 Artisan learners completed training nationally • Convened the Skills conference on the deepening of understating of the NSDS III • SETA levies were managed and disbursed on a monthly basis • Scarce skills information was aggregated as per the sector skills plans • The OFO codes and guidelines were updated

35. Programme 5: Skills Development • New SETA landscape and establishment of SETAs were published in government gazette • SETAs were supported in the development and alignment of their sector skills plan through the SSP framework and Strategic Plan Framework • Challenges: • Staff vacancies at INDLELA relating to technical persons who are able to carry out testing due to the scarcity of qualified artisans who are also assessors • 42 Targets were fully achieved, 14 targets partially achieved and 13 targets not achieved

36. Programme 5: Skills Development • Full operationalisation of NAMB • Regular breakdown of IT services due to cable theft limits the efficiency of INDLELA operations • Delay in the provision of advice on the Annual Performance against the NSDS III by NSA • Mitigation: • To date 12 of these targets have been achieved, 8 partially achieved and 7 not achieved • Ongoing advertising and head hunting. Started the re-engineering of INDLELA to focus on RPL for artisans aides

37. Programme 5: Skills Development • Lack of funding from National Treasury has been replaced with funds from National Skills Funds • Recruitment in process for 16 Deputy Directors and 36 Interns • Process to purchase a wireless micro link to avoid reliance in cables in process with SITA/GITO • NSDS data collection in progress from all stakeholders

38. National Skills Fund • January 2011 Minister launched National Skills Development Strategy III • NSF Reviewed its funding framework to align it with the new NSDS III • 14 Targets were fully achieved and 7 partially achieved. 5 Targets have subsequently been achieved whilst the remaining 2 is in the process of being completed • In 2011/12, NSF paid out in grant distribution the highest amount ever in a year since its inception, representing 69% of its budgeted revenue • 59 Projects were funded in relation to IPAP, NGP, Rural Development, Disabilities, Health and Education

39. Financial Statements

40. Allocation versus Expenditure Variances • Programme 1: Administration • Slow filling of vacant positions and concomitant under-expenditure on machinery and equipment • Lower than expected invoicing of Audit work by 31 March 2012 • Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination; Programme 3: Universities and Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training • Had no material allocation versus expenditure variances • Programme 5: Skills Development • Under-spending on the Indlela security system

41. Spending Trends per Economic Classification

42. NSF and Entities • NSF received an unqualified audit opinion • 22 Universities received unqualified audit opinions with 1 university receiving a qualified audit opinion • 28 FET Colleges received unqualified audit opinions with 6 receiving qualified audit opinions, 1 disclaimer and 15 did not submit at time of review • 16 SETAs received unqualified audit opinions with 4 receiving qualified audit opinions and 1 disclaimer • National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Council for Higher Education (CHE), South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) and Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) received unqualified audit opinions

43. Auditor-General Report • Received an unqualified audit opinion • Key matters raised by the Auditor-General: • Significant Uncertainties Defendant in a number of law suits. The department is opposing the claims and the ultimate outcome of these cannot be presently determined • Restatement of Corresponding Figures Lease commitments for the 2010/11 financial year has been restated • Performance Information Major variances are not in all cases supported by sufficient appropriate evidence

44. Action Plan • The Department has developed action plans to address matters raised • These plans include all areas raised in the Audit Report as well as all other matters identified during the audit that resulted in audit queries • Progress on the action plans will be monitored on a monthly basis and will be reported to the Audit Committee and Senior Management

45. Thank You