QCTO Update Presentation to HET Portfolio Committee 23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 1

Under 1995 SAQA Act & 1998 SD Act SAQA set standards / qualifications and registered them on the NQF; It did this by recognizing Standard Generating Bodies (SGBs) to do the work (DHET for schools and colleges) SETAs often established SGBs under SAQA and developed their own sectoral qualifications, Quality assurance was done by SAQA-accredited Education & Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) bodies: SETAs were accredited as ETQAs (cf SDA) But … uneven sectoral quality, duplication resulted 23 February 2011QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 2

Under the former DoE DoE parallel processes from DoL: – Higher education – Universities quality assured by Council on Higher Education (CHE) as ETQA – Further Education – Schools and colleges, Umalusi moderation (ETQA) 23 February 2011QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee3

23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 4 Pre-2008 ETQAs on NQF Department of Education Department of Labour

23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 5 Proposals for QCTO emerged System perceived as inefficient so … Inter-Ministerial review of NQF began in 2001 Resulted in Joint Ministerial Statement (DoL and former DoE) in 2007 Statement envisioned third Quality Council (QCTO) alongside Umalusi and CHE; All three QCs to both SET standards and qualifications as well as Quality Assure SAQA given role to enhance ‘communication, co- ordination and collaboration’

23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 6 QCTO mandate in SDA ‘the QCTO is responsible for – establishing and maintaining occupational standards and qualifications’ – ‘the quality assurance of occupational standards and qualifications and learning in and for the workplace’ – Designing and developing occupational standards and qualifications and submitting them to the SAQA for registration on the NQF – Ensuring the quality of occupational standards and qualifications and learning in and for the workplace; (SDA, 2008, Section 26H, 3)

Policy matters Minister has responsibility of setting policy on occupational standards and qualifications. Specifically as per the SDA, the Minister has responsibility to determine policy on: – An occupational qualifications sub-framework as an integral part of the NQF – The sub-framework for quality assurance for occupational qualifications; and – Any other matter concerning occupational standards or occupational qualifications Have to be cautious to avoid NQF trap- skills development system that centres around the qualification framework to an extent of it being a constraint. 23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 7

23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 8 Con’t (SDA Definition) An ‘occupational qualification means a qualification associated with a trade, occupation or profession resulting from work-based learning and consisting of – knowledge unit standards, – practical unit standards and – work experience unit standards’ (Definition) By implication, before the Occupational Sub Framework for Trades and Occupations could be published, there must be alignment with other Sub- Frameworks i.e. of Umalusi and CHE

Labourers and elementary workers (8) Managers (1) Professionals (2) Technicians and trade workers (3) Community and personal service workers (4) Clerical and administrative workers (5) Sales workers (6) Machinery operators and drivers (7) HEQF - gazetted Proposed GFETQF Proposed OQF National Occupational Qualifications (>120) National Occupational Awards (<120) Alignment between Sub-Frameworks under debate 23 February 20119QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee

23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 10 Policy matters Need to clarify the overlaps and contradictions in the sub- frameworks Clarify roles and responsibilities with other QCs, and UMALUSI in particular on the theoretical component of occupational qualifications Clarify relations, roles and responsibilities with SETAs, NAMB Address integration and articulation, i.e. the QCs were conceptualised in the context of 2 separate departments, DHET is now responsible for education, training and skills development

23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 11 Developments Delegation back to SETAs for ‘legacy’ qualifications underway; HELA Act, passed 7 December 2010, provides for QCTO staff establishment – QCTO prioritising this urgently; Business Plan to be submitted to National Treasury shortly QCTO listed as 3A Public Entity on 31 December 2010 (retrospectively from 1 April 2010) – requiring a number of obligations be implemented urgently e.g. bank account, reports, etc. CEO position advertised in December 2010, and appointment process underway

23 February 2011 QCTO Update to Portfolio Committee 12 Operational issues QCTO can only function as Public Entity properly once budget is transferred from DHET. For this to occur Finance and HR systems must be in place. QCTO will use DHET systems for an initial phase from 1 April 2011, until it is operationally ready. DHET will continue to provide support and assistance to ensure that policy matters are clarified, overlaps with other QCs are addressed Financial allocations will continue through DHET

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