National Skills Development Conference - Reflection “Reflection on a decade of skills development in preparing for the future” 15 – 17 October 2008

General observations We are building an evolving and maturing skills development system Over the last ten years we have accumulated a wealth of experience and expertise across all social sectors and institutions There is a need to consolidate the gains made and draw lessons to map a way forward. Find success and market them. Institutional capacity across all institutions involved in the conceptualization of strategy and the delivery of skill remains a major obstacle Millions of youth still remain outside the formal learning system and continue to be trapped in the vicious cycle of unemployment and poverty. The first years were about compliance, we must now move towards performance and innovation

Coherence and integration of skills development/1 Integration The absence of integration of education and training by the Department of Education and Labour remains a hindrance No integration of education and training with other government departments and policies Integration of frameworks, plans and policies The planning framework should be informed by a medium to long term perspective Align the work of SETAs with industrial policies Government should provide signal for future growth sectors. Skills development should be informed by “Drivers of Global Competitiveness” i.e. metal beneficiation, automotive, ICT and aerospace Labour market information are critical in informing the system on the countries skills needs Learning We are starting from a low education and skills base Lifelong learning is a social insurance for workers and youth The output of targets particularly among artisans still low We are experiencing an avalanche of curriculum reform policy which in turn impacts negatively on the quality of learning Long and drawn out process of bringing people into Learnerships

Coherence and integration of skills development/2 Delivery mechanisms Redefine the mandate of SETAs and their relationship with DoL through public discourse Greater oversight of SETAs SETAs should be give the opportunity to amalgamate to maximize synergies and resources Strengthen institutions of delivery Greater participation of unions and community constituencies

Coherence and integration of skills development/2 Resourcing and Funding of training institutions Unblock resources of funding and find efficient ways to enable a speedy flow of resources where they are most needed SETA funds should be used to build training capacity

Mass skills development delivery for productivity, employment, growth and development/1 General observations Training does not necessarily lead to employment Training is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for productivity An agenda of mass employment should drive the massification of skills development Mass participation is a precondition for mass skills development

Mass skills development delivery for productivity, employment, growth and development/2 Necessary conditions for success The schooling system must produce learners with basic skills for learning: proficiency in the language(s) of learning and computation (mathematical) skills School leavers should leave with core skill to engage in employment Systems flow. Improve throughput and completion rates across GET, FET and HE. Universal retention, completion and achievement A uniform perception on quality in the institutions

Mass skills development delivery for productivity, employment, growth and development/3 Differentiated strategy “One size fits all” approach is not helpful Differentiated skills development strategy for each sector and for the employed and the unemployed Differentiated programme: general; vocational and occupational programmes Differentiated institutions of delivery “ Don’t try and do what others are doing” A combination of different modes of programme delivery: face-to-face; distance; online etc, to maximize access to educations and training opportunities Career guidance appropriate to learner and students with the system and for unemployed youth and adults

Mass skills development delivery for productivity, employment, growth and development/4 Strengthening institution of delivery “Where will this massification going to take place” There are no HE institution in the N Cape and Mpumalanga Long term and effective forecasting with each sector as opposed to pursue a tight match of every training to every skill immediately required in the economy Forecast planning creates the framework for planning in sectors as well as assisting to determine implication for companies and communities Revival of the apprenticeship system

Quality and relevance of skills interventions Current challenges Lack of standards across sectors Variations across sites Limited to education and training processes Solutions Partnerships QA to permeate the whole system Monitoring and evaluation, impact Build past experience and good practices

Qualification Assessment Specification External assessment Good in principle –How will it be implemented Costs? Could go horribly wrong –Unintended consequences –Complexity

Recognition How will the new qualifications, quality assurance allow for RPL? Could become more expensive What if employers don’t recognise qualifications based on RPL?

Workplace learning Needs to be emphasised but little understood Is there a theoretical basis –What is nature and content of workplace learning? –How do we get more workplaces to open up to experiential learning?

Building blocks for the NSDS 2021 to 2015 There is general consensus that the five (5) objectives remain for NSDS 3 with some changes in wording Indicators linked to the objectives must be more clearly formulated The lever for each indicators must specify impact assessment and communication Must be aligned to growth and development strategies, ASGI-SA (JIPSA) and Industrial Policy Framework and coherent with national HRD strategy

Building blocks for the NSDS 2010 to 2015 Regulatory changes to ensure inclusion of all employers without additional administrative burden SMEs and government departments Way forward –NSDS 3 to be announced October 2009 –Tools and mechanisms ready for implementation April 2010