The National Skills Authority held a successful workshop with PSDFs and SETAs from 22 – 23 May 2019 at Destiny Hotel, Kempton Park.
The purpose of the meetings was to receive progress on the skills development work in the Provinces and to provide updates on the work of the NSA. Furthermore, engage on the performance of the SETAs, receive presentations from the SETAs and to share the progress made on the NSDSIII. The NSA shared its findings from one on one meetings with the SETAs and solicit inputs on proposed NSA regulations.
Three Provinces; KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Limpopo highlighted their provincial progress and best practice and two SETAs: CATHSSETA and CHIETA presented their progress in the implementation of the NSDS III, Skills Development Policy Matters, Governance and Sector Skills Plans. NSA Chairperson Ms Lulama Nare reminded the members of the core mandate of the NSA and how it relates to the functioning of the PSDFs and SETAs. She emphasised the importance of functional PSDFs as they are established to be a stakeholder platform to address specific training/skills/education provincial needs and also serve as links between the NSA and the provinces.
The PSDFs and SETAs were applauded for prioritising meetings with the NSA since this encounter provides an update on the progress made against the NSDSIII targets, share good practices on the performance of the SETAs and also creates a platform for rethinking and reshaping the skills development agenda of our country.
In order to collaborate the work of different stakeholders within skills development the National Skills Fund (NSF) presented regulations on the Workplace-based learning programme and shared the role of the regional offices and their rural development projects.
The workshop key issues and recommendations are as follows:
- Received inputs on the proposed NSA Regulations for conducting investigations and strengthening of the PSDFs.
- More SETAs to have provincial footprint.
- NSF regional directors should actively engage with the Provinces.
- SETAs to develop/support programmes that are relevant to Provincial needs. SETAs to link up with other SETAs that are already well established in the Provinces
- Skills policies should be more about the economy and labour market.
- SETAs to strengthen Inter-SETA collaborations, partnerships and share lessons learnt and models.
- Theory of Change on the NSDP to be fast tracked
- Strengthen cooperatives and SMME support.
- To source local skills development providers with relevant skills and knowledge of the industry.
- Develop Entrepreneurship programme to support small suppliers/ businesses. Approach SEDA, NYDA, SEFA, NEF, IDC etc. for financial support and development of SMMEs.
As a token of appreciation, all SETAs that partnered with the NSA through their monetary and in-kind support in preparation for the skills conference and awards received trophies and certificates. In closing, the NSA thanked all the SETAs that supported the work of the PSDFs and encouraged other SETAs to do so as well and urged the NSF to facilitate engagements with the PSDFs in terms of their role and contribution.
Enquiries:
Mr Fhedzisani Mashau
Tel: 012 312 6001
E-mail: Mashau.F@dhet.gov.za