NSA congratulates SETAs on Unqualified and Clean Audits 2016-2017

In accordance with the Skills Development Act (SDA), SETAs must use the moneys received only in prescribed manner, prepare annual budgets, annual reports and financial statements. The Auditor General must audit the accounts, financial statements and report on the audits to the Minister and in that report express an opinion on whether the SETAs has complied with the provisions of the SDA, and its constitution relating to the financial matters.

Thirteen SETAs received unqualified audit opinions from the Auditor General implying that the SETAs had findings on predetermined objectives and/or compliance. In additions. there were eight SETAs that recieved clean audit opinions, implying that there were no findings on predetermined objectives and compliance.

SETA 2016/2017 Audition Opinion
AGRISETA Unqualified
BANKSETA Unqualified (Clean)
CETA Unqualified (Clean)
CATHSSETA Unqualified
CHIETA Unqualified (Clean)
ETDP SETA Unqualified (Clean)
EWSETA Unqualified
FASSET Unqualified
INSETA Unqualified (Clean)
MERSETA Unqualified
MICT Unqualified (Clean)
MQA Unqualified
PSETA Unqualified
FOODBEV SETA Unqualified
HWSETA Unqualified (Clean)
FP&M SETA Unqualified (Clean)
SASSETA Unqualified
SERVICES SETA Unqualified
TETA Unqualified
W&RSETA Unqualified
LGSETA Unqualified

The NSA congratulates all 21 Sector Education & Training Authorities (SETAs) and their boards on their meritorious achievements of unqualified audit opinions for the 2016/2017 financial year. We further commend all the SETAs for their continued commitment to addressing the national skills development imperatives through strengthened governance, improved performance, accountability and transparency.

 

Ms Lulama Nare

Chairperson: National Skills Authority

 

 
Download Media Statement

National Skills Authority (NSA) enhances the efforts of the SETAs and the Provincial Skills Development Forums (PSDFs) in skilling the Nation

On 14 June 2017 the National Skills Authority (NSA) convened a ground breaking meeting by bringing together the principals of the 21 Seta Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and the 9 Provincial Skills Development Forums (PSDFs) represented by the coordinators from the Premiers ‘offices. The Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 mandates the NSA to liaise with SETAs and PSDFs in the quest of fulfilling the purposes of the Act.

The purpose of the meeting was to engage with SETAs and PSDFs on the progress made in implementing the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS). The PSDFs comprise of skills development stakeholders in each province to assist with the determination of skills needs in each province. The NSA was encouraged to receive positive feedback from provinces and would like to commend SETAs for their overwhelming support and investments they made in implementing skills development and training in various provinces through the provision of bursaries, learnerships, internships, funding for rural development projects, promotion of small businesses etc.

Although strides were made in realising the purpose of the Skills Development Act, there were still a number of key issues which required improvement amongst others:

  • Delays in the implementation of planned projects,
  • Shortages of work places and accredited service providers,
  • Non standardisation of stipends,
  • The ineffectiveness of the SETA regional offices and
  • Skills development implementation in the rural areas.

Recommendations:

  • Standardisation of stipends for learning programmes across all SETAs and finalisation of the workplace based learning regulations.
  • A common approach for data verification to be considered by the department.
  • Best practice within SETAs on planning and monitoring and evaluation should be promoted.
  • Processes for target setting should take into consideration capacity and resources of SETAs.

CONCLUSION

The NSA will continue to highlight key skills development issues that require policy and strategic interventions to the Minister and the appropriate implementing agencies.

Statement issued by the National Skills Authority

Enquiries       : Dr Thabo Mashongoane

Telephone     : (012) 312 5666

Email              : Mashongoane.T@dhet.gov.za

www.nationalskillsauthority.org.za

Statement: National Skills Conference and Awards 2017

MEDIA STATEMENT

THE NATIONAL SKILLS AUTHORITY HOSTS A SUCCESSFULTWO DAY NATIONAL SKILLS CONFERENCE

24 March 2017

The National Skills Authority (NSA), together with the Department of Higher Education and Training had a successful National Skills Conference which took place at Saint George Hotel, Irene in Pretoria.

The conference, attended by the Deputy President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande on the second day, was made up of delegates who represented amongst others government, organised business, organised labour, community, training providers, Human Resource Development Council South Africa, Quality Councils, Sector Education and Training Authorities, Universities, Provincial Skills Development Forums and  Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

Introducing the Deputy President, the Minister of Higher Education and Training thanked the National Skills Authority and the delegates of their continued commitment in making sure the solutions are sought for the country’s skills development challenges.

“At its essence, the National Skills Conference is about the future of our country. It is about the skills and the capabilities that will enable our young people to build a prosperous, equitable and just society. It is mainly about ending the cycle of poverty” said the Deputy President.

The Deputy President applauded the conference for putting skills development at the centre of the country’s national agenda. He highlighted that he subscribed to the notion of the conference theme since it squarely aligns itself with the spirit of the National Development plan 2030 that we should “Build a strong relationship between the college sector and industry. He also encouraged cooperation as necessary between managers of institution and students, between educational institutions and employers, between universities and TVET Colleges.

“Gathered here today are South Africans from all corners of our land, people with different backgrounds, different responsibilities, different perspectives, but who share a common vision of a united, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous society”, he said in closing and encouraged a patriotic South Africa where we work together to find solutions to our challenges, where dialogue, reason and consensus triumph over insults, violence and intimidation.

It was also the presentations that were given on the first day of the conference that really allowed the conference to engage on a variety of matters around skills development challenges in the country.

These presentations allowed a platform for a question and answer session and really set a tone for the discussions during the breakaway commissions which engaged in a quest to find and propose solutions in the ongoing challenges our country is experiencing regards skills development.

The following are the outcomes and proposals of the commissions during the conference:

  • Improve skills planning and forecasting
  • Strengthen governance of SETAs and ensure legislative alignment and separation of powers
  • Develop an NSDS monitoring and evaluation framework
  • Strengthen the NSA oversight role to monitor the implementation of the NSDS
  • Post 2020 NSDS to focus on long term planning, ensure integration of NSDS to key national strategies e.g HRDSA, NDP
  • Regulate and develop a WPBL policy (including articulation, funding for WBPL, standardisation of stipends, roles and responsibilities employers and labour etc)
  • Prioritise lecturer development for TVET colleges
  • Investigate the effectiveness and employability/destination of TVET programmes
  • Strengthen the involvement of community colleges in the post-school education and training system
  • Ensure skills transfer
  • Acceleration of Recognition of Prior Learning programmes and consideration of E-learning
  • The need for NSA visibility and provincial footprints (Consultation with Provinces on scarce skills)
  • Strengthen the capacity of the QCTO (financial, human, etc)
  • Constituencies pledged their support towards the implementation of the NSDS and post-school education system

There was also the NSA Awards ceremony which took place on 23 March 2017. The aim of the NSA Awards ceremony was to celebrate excellence by recognising best skills development practices across all skills development implementers and National Skills Funded Projects in various categories. The NSA Chairperson, Ms Lulama Nare said the NSA Awards Ceremony recognises the good work done by men and women of our beautiful country charged also with the responsibility of developing our people with requisite skills for the socio-economic upliftment and inclusive growth path.

The winners were as follows:

NSDS Goal Category Recipient Name of Company
Goal 4.2

Increasing access to

occupationally‐directed

programmes

 

Best Artisan Development Programme

 

 

Best Large company Bronze ( Position 3) Sibanye Gold

Silver   (Position 2) Anglo American

Gold  (Position 1) Algoa Bus Company

 
Best Provincial Department Silver   (Position 2 KZN Department of Transport

Gold  (Position 1) Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA)

Best Municipality Bronze Ugu District Municipality

 

Best Small (SMME) Bronze ( Position 3) SSACI

Silver   (Position 2) Aranda Textiles Mills

Gold  (Position 1) Novus Academy

Best TVET College Bronze ( Position 3) West Coast TVET College

Silver   (Position 2) Lephalale TVET College

Gold  (Position 1) Umfolozi TVET College

Best private college Colliery Training College
Goal 4.3

Promoting the growth of a

public TVET College system

that is responsive to sector, local, regional and national skills needs and priorities

Best TVET placement programme

 

Best Large company Boxer Superstores
Best Small (SMME) Bronze ( Position 3) IK Training and Assessment

Silver   (Position 2)  Mareditel

Gold (Position 1) Guest Resources Services

Best TVET College Silver   (Position 2)  Umfolozi TVET College

Gold (Position 1) West Coast TVET College

Best private college Bronze ( Position 3) Aranda Learnership College

Silver   (Position 2) Sparrow FET College

Gold (Position 1)Furniture World Private College

Goal 4.4

Addressing the low level of

youth and adult language

and numeracy skills to

enable additional training

Best AET Programme  
Best Large company Bronze ( Position 3) Kumba Iron Ore

Silver   (Position 2)  Richards Bay Minerals

Gold (Position 1) Sibanye Gold

Best Small (SMME Silver   (Position 2)  Guest Resource Services

Gold (Position 1) Celrose Clothing

Best Provincial Department Silver   (Position 2)  Kwazulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements

Gold (Position 1) Kwazulu-Natal Office of the Premier

Best Skills Programme Best Large company Bronze ( Position 3) Kumba Iron Ore

Silver   (Position 2)  Networx for career development

Gold (Position 1) Sibanye Gold

Best National department Silver   (Position 2) Department of Energy

Gold (Position 1) Correctional Services

Best Small company Bronze ( Position 3) Aranda Textiles Mills

Silver   (Position 2)  Celrose Clothing

Gold (Position 1) Trade call investments

Best TVET college Umfolozi TVET College

 

Best Private College Silver   (Position 2) Furniture World Private College

Gold (Position 1) Colliery Training College

Goal 4.5 Encouraging better use

of workplace-based skills

development

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best University Placement

Programme

(WIL)

 
Best Large Bronze ( Position 3) Boxer Superstores

Silver   (Position 2)  AIDC

Gold (Position 1) Sibanye Gold

 

Best Small company Bronze ( Position 3) Specsaver South Africa

Silver   (Position 2)  SABC Group Learning and Development

Gold (Position 1) Celrose Clothing

Best municipality Bronze ( Position 3)

Silver   (Position 2)

Gold (Position 1) Ethekwini Municipal Institute of Learning

Goal 4.6 Encouraging and

supporting cooperatives,

small enterprises,

worker-initiated, NGO and community training initiatives

Best Community project

 

 

 

 

 

 
Best Large company Bronze ( Position 3) Kolomela Iron Ore

Silver   (Position 2)  Siyaloba Training Academy

Gold (Position 1) Bidvest Protea Coin

Best Small Company Marang Incorporated
Best municipality  (Position 1) Ugu District Municipality
Goal 4.7 

Increasing public

Sector capacity for improved service delivery

and supporting the building

of a developmental state

Best Public Sector Internship and learnership programmes
Best National Department Bronze ( Position 3) Department of Energy

Silver   (Position 2)  Department of Science and Technology

Gold (Position 1) Department of Correctional Services

 

Best Provincial Department Bronze ( Position 3) )  KZN department of Transport

Silver   (Position 2 KZN Provincial Treasury

Gold (Position 1) Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works

Best Municipality Bronze ( Position 3)

Silver   (Position 2) 

Gold (Position 1) Pixley ka Seme District municipality

Best Large company Bronze ( Position 3) Unemployment Insurance Fund

Silver   (Position 2)  Kolomela Iron Ore

Gold (Position 1) AIDC

Private College Bronze ( Position 3) Algoa Bus Company

Silver   (Position 2)  Celrose Clothing

Gold (Position 1) SABC Group Learning and Development

Goal 4.8

Building career and vocational guidance

Best career and vocational guidance programme Best career guidance partnership Second Chance Foundation

 

 

 

Enquiries:

Dr Thabo Mashongoane

Director: National Skills Authority Secretariat

Tel: 012 312 5666

E-mail: Mashongoane.T@dhet.gov.za

Issued by the NSA

For more information, please visit the National Skills Authority website:  www.nationalskillsauthority.org.za

 

Media statement NSA December 2016

NATIONAL SKILLS AUTHORITY (NSA) CONVENED A TWO-DAY PROGRESS REVIEW SESSION

The National Skills Authority (NSA) convened a two-day Progress Review Session at the Magaliesburg Valley Lodge from 23 to 24 November 2016. The two-day session provided the NSA with the opportunity to receive, evaluate and review its projects.

Update progress reports presented were received on the:

Tracer Study of the Transition of NCV Students from TVET Colleges to the Labour Market – NSA Funding

The study was conducted in collaboration between the Swiss-South African Cooperation Initiative (SSACI). The study is aimed at:

  • Exploring the social and economic factors that influence the choice of young people to study NCV in a TVET
  • Examining the experiences of young people while in college, on leaving TVET colleges and during their attempts to enter the labour market; and
  • Describe their transition pathways from school to work via TVET colleges

A full presentation and report can be accessed on the NSA website.

Feasibility on the establishment on a Centre for Skills Development

The research is aimed at exploring the feasibility of establishing a training Centre for Skills Development (CSD) in order to strengthen the capacity of the post-school education and training system (PSET). The CSD is modeled and benchmarked against the Turin International Labour Organisation (ILO) training centre in Italy. The DHET Corporate Services and the HRDC have also shown keen interest in the creation of such a platform which its modus operandi is still being investigated. A report on the recent study tour to Italy can be requested from the NSA office

NSDS III 2011 – 2016 Implementation Report (annual and 5 year terms)

The National Skills Development Strategy III (NSDS III) 2011 – 2016 marks the fifth year of the strategy’s implementation. The NSDS III progress reports seeks to report on the implementation of the NSDS annually from 2015-2016 and for five years of the implementation of the NSDS from 2011-2016. The reports play a crucial role of tracking progress against the 8 NSDS goals by indicating challenges or successes experienced in the roll out of the strategy.

NSDS III Impact/Evaluation study

The purpose of the research is to review the impact of the NSDS III impact on beneficiaries, uptake by stakeholders, the rate of participation by SETAs (and employee relationships), public universities and colleges, private providers as well as the quality of learning.  The study will be conducted at national level, covering all SETAs, TVET Colleges, Universities and all other role players in regards to achievement of all eight goals. The study is its infancy stage and is envisaged to conclude in March 2018.

NSA M&E Framework

The project is aimed at developing a business case for the new role of the NSA pronounced in the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training. The framework will assist in clarifying the distinctive role of the SETAs, DHET in M&E and how the NSA can enhance such a function.

SETA Panel Review and NSA oversight report on the performance of SETAs

The SETA panel review is in the second year of operation and good progress has already been reported against the objectives of the project.

The aim of the project is to:

  • Support to improve the quality of SETA planning and performance;
  • Identify SETA performance against plans of the SETAs;
  • Identify, support and recommend alignment to the National Skills Development Strategy;
  • Support the improvement in performance and planning not only for reporting but also for governance;
  • Integrated report of a SETA; and not in isolation of other reports and plans.

CONCLUSION

These progress reports allowed the NSA to effectively monitor and review these projects in alignment with its strategic objectives. Further discussions included the strengthening of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) with a Roundtable to be held in 2017 as well as a review of the SETA landscape and National Skills Development Plan.

We will provide you with constant updates on progress regarding our research studies and relevant strategic projects. We will share with you key findings and communicate final outcomes of the studies and    make them publicly available on the NSA website.

Media Statement – National Skills Authority meeting with the Minister

The Minister welcomed and congratulated the new NSA Chairperson Ms Lulama Nare into her new portfolio and thanked Mr Thulani Tshefuta for acting in the portfolio while processes for the new Chairperson were being concluded. In his remarks the Minister impressed that the NSA should play a strategic role in advising the Minister as per the Skills Development Act and start to engage with its new mandate of becoming an expert body on monitoring and evaluation.

He stressed that job creation is one of the key priorities for government and that it was imperative that skills development should be aligned to key economic growth sectors.  The Minister highlighted the critical importance of ensuring the creation of capacity within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector to interpret skills development economic trends. The Minister made a call to the NSA to advise on key economic growth sectors in which skills development should focus on, in order to improve economic growth and sustainable livelihoods.

The issues of articulation within the PSET system and the up skilling the current workforce and provision of resourcing and funding for worker education should be seriously considered.

In conclusion, the Minister highlighted that monitoring of the implementation of the NSDS and the impact of skills development should be prioritised.  The mechanisms put in place for supporting skills development institutions and monitoring and evaluation of skills development implementation and the levies should be strengthened.

Media Statement on National Skills Authority advises the Minister on the new National Skills Development Strategy

National Skills Authority advises the Minister on the new National Skills Development Strategy and the Seta landscape beyond 2018 and the Skills Conference and Awards 2016

The National Skills Authority (NSA) in partnership with Provincial Skills Development Forums (PSDFs),

hosted public hearings in all Provinces following the Minister of Higher Education and Training  Government Gazette announcement of 10 November 2015 on the call for public comments on the

“Proposal for the New National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) Landscape within the context of an Integrated and Differentiated Post School Education and Training System (NSLP 2015)”.

23 June 2016 1

The newly appointed NSA Chairperson Ms Lulama Nare, led the NSA in presenting a report during an NSA meeting with the Minister at Johannesburg. The report highlighted consolidated inputs gathered through the public hearings. This included the nine provincial consultations, the written submissions and the NSA roundtable on the review of the NSDS and the SETA Landscape beyond 2018.

23 June 2016 2

The Minister was also apprised of other crucial work of the NSA but of special reference was the urgent need to strengthen the capacity of the NSA and the entire skill development cadres to ensure the is effectiveness and efficiency of the system. The Minister emphasised that for our country to realise the so much needed economic growth, skills system should fully integrate within the Post School Education Sector for maximum inclusive growth path.

It is envisaged that the Skills Conference and Awards 2016 with the theme: “Skills Development System for an Integrated and Differentiated Post School Education and Training Sector” – Past, Present and Future, is planned for the 27-28 October 2016 will provide a multi-stakeholder platform for reviewing the gains of the NSDS III and chart a new skills development trajectory for the future. The Awards Evening will seek to recognise good work done by various role players in facilitating education and training and promoting excellence.

The Minister responded by welcoming the advice on the NSLP-2015 and congratulated the new NSA Chairperson Ms Lulama Nare into her new portfolio and thanked Mr Thulani Tshefuta for acting in the portfolio while processes for the new Chairperson were being concluded. In his remarks the Minister impressed that the NSA should play a strategic role in advising the Minister as per the Skills Development Act and start to engage with its new mandate of becoming an expert body on monitoring and evaluation.

He stressed that job creation is one of the key priorities for government and that it was imperative that skills development should be aligned to key economic growth sectors.  The Minister reiterated the critical importance of ensuring the creation of capacity within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector to interpret skills development economic trends. The Minister made a call to the NSA to advice on key economic growth sectors in which skills development should focus on, in order to improve economic growth, worker education and sustainable livelihoods.

The issues of articulation within the PSET system and the up skilling the current workforce and provision of resourcing and funding for worker education should be seriously considered.

In conclusion, the Minister highlighted that monitoring of the implementation of the NSDS and the impact of skills development should be prioritised.  The mechanisms put in place for supporting skills development institutions and monitoring and evaluation of skills development implementation and the levies should be strengthened.

Media statement on the National Skills Authority meeting with the SETAs

The National Skills Authority (NSA) convened a meeting with the representatives of the 21 governing structures of the 21 Governing structures of the Seta Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) on 25 May 2016 as part of the NSA’s legislative role of monitoring the performance of SETAs. The Skills Development Act 97 of 98 as amended required that the NSA must liaise with SETAs on the national skills development strategy.

The newly appointed Chairperson of the NSA led the discussions and indicated that the purpose of the meeting was to engage on the performance of SETAs, the impact of skills development programmes within the Post-school Education and Training system and the current and future activities that sought to enhance skills development work.

SETAs emphasised that:

  • The current system should ensure that performance targets were relevant.
  • In future the scope of SETAs should be focused and clear.
  • The system should move towards monitoring qualitative targets.
  • There was an urgent need for a common monitoring and evaluation framework.
  • The discussions on the future SETA landscape to be preceded by discussions on the strategy

The SETAs also viewed the engagement with the NSA as very strategic and proposed continuous future engagements with the NSA, SETA Chairpersons and CEOs on key skills development policy related issues.