1. January 2019
Strengthening National Skills Development governance and accountability Dr Takalani Rambau Senior Manager – AGSA

2. Reputation promise
The Auditor-General of South Africa has a constitutional mandate and, as the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of South Africa, exists to strengthen our country’s democracy by enabling oversight, accountability and governance in the public sector through auditing, thereby building public confidence.

3. AGSA Service Offerings
Regularity Audit
Financial statements
Compliance
Performance information
Information System Audit
General IT Controls
Data Analytics
Investigation
Performance Audit
Economy
Efficiency
Effectiveness
Fraud Detection
Review large projects

4. Skills Development National Priorities
National Development Plan advocates for:
Improving the system of skills planning
Development of strong national qualifications and variety of non-formal skills programmes
Strengthen and expand the number of TVET colleges
The development of world class centres for training and skills development
The policy objectives of the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training (PSET) include:
A stronger and more cooperative relationship between education and training institutions and the workplace.
A PSET system that is responsive to the needs of individual citizens, public and private employers as well as societal and developmental objectives.
The essence of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) III is to address systemic blockages such as:
A lack of synergy between the various post-school sub-systems (e.g. universities, TVET colleges, Setas, etc.)
A lack of clarity in relation to the role expected of the various parts of the skills development system
Inefficiencies and wastage within the PSET system
Silo mentality which prevents partnerships and alignment needed to improve effectiveness

8. Policies and legislation informing the sector audits
Current planning and reporting Guidelines - amongst others
Skills Development Act (1998
National Skills Development
National Development Plan (2012)
White Paper on PSET (2014)
Sector Skills Plans
Annual Service Level Agreements
Annual Performance Plans
Quarterly Management Reports
Annual Reports

9. 2014 – 2018 PSET sector audit focus areas
Value add areas
- Research
- Partnerships
- Monitoring and Evaluation
NSDS III Key Pillars
- PIVOTAL/WIL
- Rural Development
- SMMEs/Unions
- Inter-sectoral skills
- Revitalisation of TVET college
Revitalization of TVET Colleges
- Seta interventions for TVET colleges
- NSF interventions for TVET colleges
- DHET policy, guidance and support for TVET college interventions
- NSFAS bursaries (WC)
2014 – 2018 PSET sector audit focus areas
Planning, collaboration and data management
Achievement of outcomes
Impact of Interventions

10. Key Lessons Learnt Monitoring and Evaluation Skills Research
The need to use established research institutions/ primarily public research providers with a room to use private research providers.
Centralised research planning, commissioning and research reports management.
Consider the role and responsibilities of research capacity residing in the 21 sectors
Partnerships
Partnership beyond designated skills entities
Department of Labour (Public Employment Services) registration of work seekers
Expanded Public Works Programme, Community Works Programme, NARYSEC, etc.
SETA to SETA identification of priority/focus areas and collaborating with each other for cross-cutting or inter-sectoral skills
Monitoring and Evaluation
M&E systems and processes need to be used as knowledge generator and base
There is a need to develop a continuous practice of capturing findings from M&E initiatives – site visits in a centralised or national database.
The need for integrated effort for areas deemed national priorities
Plan , monitor and report the implementation of national priorities to determine the need for inputs, outputs, outcome and impact achieved such as
Support skills for rural development
Support SMMEs, NGOs and Trade Union
Revitalisation of TVET colleges

11. Critical elements for national skills development governance and accountability
Collective planning – Alignment of systems, processes and tools
Annual Broader Stakeholder Engagement – National Skills Conference
SETA chairpersons planning meeting
SETA CEOs planning meetings
Priority Areas/Cross-Cutting/Intersectoral Implementation meetings
National Skills Development Coordination
DHET as a national coordinator – guide, support, report (Branches and NSA)
SETAs lead sector specific initiatives
NSF lead initiatives which are not sector specific
Monitoring and Evaluation – hub of information management
NSA as per its mandate to be responsible for providing guidance, setting up mechanism to capture and share M&E data in terms of findings, best practices and common challenges
Develop processes and systems for ensuring that the existing capacity for M&E residing in different sectors is used economically, efficiently and effectively
Consolidated reporting to provide holistic achievements
The reporting processes and systems from different sectors should talk to each other
Consistency in reporting quarterly reports, annual reports and consolidated annual report
Mid-term and five-year reporting are essential for the stakeholders

12. Stay in touch with the AGSA