New Seta landscape 'disappointing'

A new Seta landscape will see the Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (Isett Seta) becoming more comprehensive.

Higher education minister Blade Nzimande says the new landscape, through the re-licensing of the Setas, will be effective for the period April 2011 until March 2016.

However, deputy shadow minister of higher education and training Andricus van der Westhuizen says the Setas do nothing to eradicate unemployment.

“Nzimande's stubborn allegiance to the failed Seta system, despite its dismal performance, makes it more difficult for workers to get the skills they need. His announcement could not have been more disappointing for the unemployed.”

Nzimande says he was advised on the new landscape by the National Skills Authority.

“The final Seta landscape is based on the application of the criteria provided for in the Skills Development Act, 1998, and other broader considerations informed by the imperative of creating a post-school system aimed at addressing the skills needs of our country, for both the youth and adult sectors of our population.”

“I, however, wish to state that much as I was very sympathetic to the many arguments for creating fewer Setas, it was my view that this is a goal that we have to work towards over the next five years, while concentrating on a closer match between Setas and the various economic sectors which they have to serve,” says Nzimande.

As per the new landscape, 18 Setas remain unchanged or have minimal transfers, and three will be affected by significant changes that will see them being closed down.

“Considering the massive skills deficit facing our country, and the fact that we have millions of unemployed people desperate for training, his [Nzimande's] axing of three Setas and the realignment of various others for the next five years (2011-2016) will serve only to perpetuate the misguided and unproductive approach adopted in recent years by the higher education department,” says Van der Westhuizen.

He adds that by re-licensing the Setas, Nzimande has missed an opportunity to shift education funding to where it works.

“The reason is this: there are various ways of spending money on education and skills training, and some work better than others. Some barely work, or do not work at all. The Setas fall into this latter category.”

He says the DA has been proposing a major shift in the higher education department's budgeting. “We propose that the government dissolve the Setas and spend its budget instead on Further Education and Training (FET) colleges, which we know can work effectively with businesses to train workers.”

The bureaucratic environment in which Setas operate stifles trainers' responsiveness to skills needs, adds Van der Westhuizen.

“We should incentivise skills development by increasing FET college capacity, so that they can accommodate at least 1.5 million of the 2.4 million unemployed youth, between the ages of 18 and 24.”

The Isett Seta is affected by the new landscape since the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Seta will be transferred to it from the Media, Advertising, Publishing, Printing, and Packaging Seta, which has been closed down.

Nzimande explains that this was done in order to address the full spectrum of ICT under one Seta.

Earlier this year, Isett Seta, in partnership with Microsoft SA, unveiled a R35 million skills programme to provide an estimated 2 000 internships in the ICT industry over the next three years.

The Isett Seta is set to receive a portion of the R316 million for scarce and critical priority skills, and R300 million for priority trades from the National Skills Fund.

The performance of all Setas were criticised in the past. The Department of Labour previously said all consistently failed to reach employment and training targets.

Nzimande says the new landscape does not address the issues related to the performance of Setas.

“This issue - the functioning of the Setas - is a source of great concern to me and this government. Much needs to be done to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. Re-establishing the Setas, as I have done today, signals that we acknowledge that these institutions must play an important role in the post-school landscape and in addressing the skills challenges facing our country.”

To achieve better performance from the Setas, Nzimande says he will soon appoint a ministerial task team that will focus on improving Seta performance.