QCTO Update

1. QCTO Update Presentation to HET Portfolio Committee 23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

2. Under 1995 SAQA Act & 1998 SD Act • SAQA set standards / qualifications and registered them on the NQF; It did this by recognizing Standard Generating Bodies (SGBs) to do the work (DHET for schools and colleges) • SETAs often established SGBs under SAQA and developed their own sectoral qualifications, • Quality assurance was done by SAQA-accredited Education & Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) bodies: SETAs were accredited as ETQAs (cf SDA) • But … uneven sectoral quality, duplication resulted QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

3. Under the former DoE • DoE parallel processes from DoL: • Higher education – Universities quality assured by Council on Higher Education (CHE) as ETQA • Further Education – Schools and colleges, Umalusi moderation (ETQA) QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

4. Pre-2008 ETQAs on NQF Department of Labour Department of Education QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

5. Proposals for QCTO emerged • System perceived as inefficient so … • Inter-Ministerial review of NQF began in 2001 • Resulted in Joint Ministerial Statement (DoL and former DoE) in 2007 • Statement envisioned third Quality Council (QCTO) alongside Umalusi and CHE; • All three QCs to both SET standards and qualifications as well as Quality Assure • SAQA given role to enhance ‘communication, co-ordination and collaboration’ QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

6. QCTO mandate in SDA • ‘the QCTO is responsible for • establishing and maintaining occupational standards and qualifications’ • ‘the quality assurance of occupational standards and qualifications and learning in and for the workplace’ • Designing and developing occupational standards and qualifications and submitting them to the SAQA for registration on the NQF • Ensuring the quality of occupational standards and qualifications and learning in and for the workplace; (SDA, 2008, Section 26H, 3) QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

7. Policy matters • Minister has responsibility of setting policy on occupational standards and qualifications. • Specifically as per the SDA, the Minister has responsibility to determine policy on: • An occupational qualifications sub-framework as an integral part of the NQF • The sub-framework for quality assurance for occupational qualifications; and • Any other matter concerning occupational standards or occupational qualifications • Have to be cautious to avoid NQF trap- skills development system that centres around the qualification framework to an extent of it being a constraint. QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

8. Con’t (SDA Definition) • An ‘occupational qualification means a qualification associated with a trade, occupation or profession resulting from work-based learning and consisting of • knowledge unit standards, • practical unit standards and • work experience unit standards’ (Definition) • By implication, before the Occupational Sub Framework for Trades and Occupations could be published, there must be alignment with other Sub-Frameworks i.e. of Umalusi and CHE QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

9. HEQF - gazetted Proposed OQF Managers (1) Professionals (2) Technicians and trade workers (3) Community and personal service workers (4) National Occupational Qualifications (>120) National Occupational Awards (<120) Clerical and administrative workers (5) Sales workers (6) Machinery operators and drivers (7) Labourers and elementary workers (8) Proposed GFETQF Alignment between Sub-Frameworks under debate QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

10. Policy matters • Need to clarify the overlaps and contradictions in the sub-frameworks • Clarify roles and responsibilities with other QCs, and UMALUSI in particular on the theoretical component of occupational qualifications • Clarify relations, roles and responsibilities with SETAs, NAMB • Address integration and articulation, i.e. the QCs were conceptualised in the context of 2 separate departments, DHET is now responsible for education, training and skills development QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

11. Developments • Delegation back to SETAs for ‘legacy’ qualifications underway; • HELA Act, passed 7 December 2010, provides for QCTO staff establishment – QCTO prioritising this urgently; • Business Plan to be submitted to National Treasury shortly • QCTO listed as 3A Public Entity on 31 December 2010 (retrospectively from 1 April 2010) – requiring a number of obligations be implemented urgently e.g. bank account, reports, etc. • CEO position advertised in December 2010, and appointment process underway QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

12. Operational issues • QCTO can only function as Public Entity properly once budget is transferred from DHET. For this to occur Finance and HR systems must be in place. • QCTO will use DHET systems for an initial phase from 1 April 2011, until it is operationally ready. • DHET will continue to provide support and assistance to ensure that policy matters are clarified, overlaps with other QCs are addressed • Financial allocations will continue through DHET QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

13. Thank you QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee