The Department of Higher Education will overhaul all Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas), but questions still remain as to which authorities will be affected by the proposed changes.
The department and the Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (Isett Seta) say no final decisions have been made.
Training company Buzzword Corporate Training says it is likely the larger, more specialised Setas will not be affected by changes.
The department, which recently took charge of the Setas from the Department of Labour, is proposing to cut them down to 12, from the current 23. Details of which Setas will be affected will only be available in 2010, when the department introduces changes.
“Up until April, no one knows what changes will be made. But Isett Seta and the Services Seta are some of the Setas I've dealt with, which say there is no need to panic yet. They all feel that nothing will happen with their Setas,” says Jacques Haviga, manager at Buzzword Corporate Training.
Changes will include a review of the National Skills Authority, the Seta landscape and the National Skills Development Strategy and would only be completed after 2010. Government has stated it needs time to “apply its mind” to what changes need to be made and ensure the right results are reached.
Haviga adds that, while introducing a single quality assurance body could improve Seta and create a more controlled environment, the department needs to introduce changes, which have been carefully thought out. The efficiency of the Setas would not be improved if unrelated authorities merge and new leaders without related knowledge are introduced to specialist authorities, he notes.
Unlocking funding
While no final budget allocations have been made yet, 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 Department of Labour has also allocated R844 million for training programmes in all Setas for the next two years, while government has set aside R2.4 billion to fund initiatives dealing with the economic crisis through a National Jobs Fund.
Nzimande says negative perceptions on the performance, management and governance of Setas had to be overcome and this would enable increased investment.
“The unblocking of funds in the National Skills Fund must also include a review of systems, procedures and of decision-making...We will be actively pursuing collaborative relationships in order to seek ways to release funds to grow the skills base,” he notes.
Challenges
Despite gains made to date in the area of skills development and training, the labour department says it still needs to address a number of challenges, which have limited the effectiveness of the policy intentions.
Nzimande says there needs to be improved coordination between the Seta system and education and training institutions, particularly further education and training colleges and universities of technology.
He adds there is inadequate alignment of industry needs and provision of training and skills development. The department must begin building a viable system of education and training that will respond to needs, he says.
“The relocation of the skills development subsystem into the Ministry of Higher Education and Training thus provides an opportunity to reconceptualise strategies for skills development within the larger unified higher education and training system with positive potential impacts on the post-school education and training system.”
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