ANNUAL REPORT 2011/12 DEPARTMENT HIGHER EDUCATION
AND TRAINING
Presentation to theSelect Committee on
Education and Recreation
6 March 2013
Presentation Outline
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• Background Information
• Performance on Predetermined Objectives
• Financial Statements
• Auditor-General Report
Background Information
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• 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
Background Information
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• 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
Programme 1: Administration
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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
Programme 1: Administration
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• 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
Programme 1: Administration
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• 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
Programme 1: Administration
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• 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
Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination
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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
Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination
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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
Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination
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• 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
Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination
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• 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
Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination
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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 1 September 2011
- Deputy Director was temporarily seconded to another unit
Programme 2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination
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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
Programme 3: University Education
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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
Programme 3: University Education
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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
Programme 3: University Education
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• 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
Programme 3: University Education
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Programme 3: University Education
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• 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
Programme 3: University Education
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- 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
Programme 3: University Education
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• 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
Programme 3: University Education
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• 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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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• 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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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• 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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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• 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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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- 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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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- 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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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• 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
Programme 4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
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• 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
Programme 5: Skills Development
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Purpose: To promote and monitor the National Skills Development Strategy
Budget sub-programmes:
• SETA Coordination • National Skills Development Services • Quality Development and Promotion
Programme 5: Skills Development
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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
Programme 5: Skills Development
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• 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
Programme 5: Skills Development
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• 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
Programme 5: Skills Development
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• 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
National Skills Fund
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• 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
Financial Statements
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ProgrammeAllocation
R’000
Actual Expenditure
R’000% Spent
1: Administration 155 688 152 404 97.9%
2: Human Resource Development, Planning and Monitoring Coordination
38 734 38 074 98.3%
3: University Education 23 428 991 23 428 356 100.0%
4: Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
4 545 463 4 540 838 99.9%
5: Skills Development 130 638 122 025 93.4%
6: Direct Charges (SETAs and NSF) 10 095 113 10 025 251 99.3%
Total 38 394 627 38 306 948 99.8%
Allocation versus Expenditure Variances
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• 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
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Economic ClassificationAllocation
R’000
Actual Expenditure
R’000% Spent
Compensation of Employees 310 168 305 598 98.5
Goods and Services 159 166 155 165 97.5
Financial transactions in assets and liabilities - 96 -
Transfer Payments
Provinces and municipalities 4 375 311 4 375 311 100.0
Departmental agencies and accounts 14 177 158 14 107 295 99.5
Universities and Technikons (current) 19 354 159 19 354 159 100.0
Foreign governments and international organisations 2 443 2 379 97.4
Non-profit institutions 3 000 3 000 100.0
Households 245 240 98.0
Capital Expenditure
Machinery and equipment 12 862 3 591 27.9
Software and other intangible assets 115 114 99.1
Total 38 394 627 38 306 948 99.8
Spending Trends per Economic Classification
NSF and Entities
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• 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
Auditor-General Report
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• 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
Action Plan
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• 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
Thank You
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