1. Umalusi’s presentation to the Basic Education Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the
2008/9 Annual Report
27 October 2009
Dr Mafu S Rakometsi

2. Overview Purpose / Mandate Summarised
External Environment : Impact on Umalusi
Organisational Performance per Unit
Financial Information
Current Issues and Way Forward
Conclusion

3. Purpose / Mandate Summarised
While Umalusi has reported against its founding mandate in the / 2009 annual report it has been mindful of the changes that it would be required to make as it moved towards its role as a Quality Council, the mandate of which became effective on 1 June Umalusi therefore reports as an organization in transition.
Umalusi’s mandate is determined by two Acts namely, the SAQA Act of 1995 now replaced by the National Qualifications Framework Act of 2008; and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act of 2001 amended in 2008.

4. Purpose / Mandate Summarised 2
Umalusi is tasked with the following:
Qualifications:
Monitor and report on the adequacy and suitability of qualifications and standards in general and further education and training; now extended to,
Develop and manage a sub-framework of qualifications in collaboration with SAQA and the other two QCs supported by the necessary policies and processes.
Quality Assurance:
Accredit private providers of education and training and assessment;
Promote quality amongst providers and ensure that providers adopt quality management systems;
Quality assure assessments at exit points and certify learner achievement
 In the amended mandate these functions have remained the same except that the monitoring of provincial departments of education has been removed.
Monitor provincial departments of education and report to the Minister

5. Purpose / Mandate Summarised 3
Information
Maintain a database of learner achievements and related
matters; and submit such data in a format determined in
consultation with the SAQA for recording on the national
learners’ records database – this requirement has remained the
same
Research
While Umalusi has always grounded its work in research this function was only formalised under the new and extended mandate, which requires Umalusi to commission and publish research on issues of importance to the development and implementation of the sub-framework

6. Purpose / Mandate Summarised 4
Advice and Collaboration
Omitted in the founding mandate but included in the amended mandate is the formalization of relationships which include:
Advice to the relevant Minister on matters relating to its sub- framework
Collaboration with the SAQA and other QCs in terms of the education and training system
Establishment of co-operative relationships with professional bodies
Advocacy of the sub-framework of qualifications

7. External Environment : Impact on Umalusi
While maintaining the “old” and routine quality assurance work Umalusi has also had to accommodate development of functions to support the “new” and extended mandate and much of what has been reported is associated with the transition. Certain aspects in the macro environment that have affected Umalusi are as follows:
The passing of the NQF Act in 2009; changes in the roles and responsibilities of the various bodies in the quality assurance landscape;
The amendment of the GENFETQA Act in 2008; the extended mandate which has required more capacity and a review of Umalusi’s positions and approaches;
The amendment of the Skills Development Act and the establishment of the QCTO with new approaches that impact on the work of Umalusi;
Amendment of the HE Act with approaches that impact on Umalusi’s work;

8. External Environment : Impact on Umalusi
The introduction of two new and high profile qualifications during this time namely the National Senior Certificate to replace the old Senior Certificate and the National Certificate: Vocational to replace the old National Technical Certificates;
A change in Chief Executive Officers towards the end of the / 2009 financial year
Not anticipated in 2008, was the splitting of the Education Ministry which has placed Umalusi in the position of straddling the education and training system in respect of its quality assurance work, reporting lines and funding streams;

9. Umalusi’s Quality Assurance Regime 2008
Umalusi believes that educational standards and quality are set and maintained through a combination of processes and interventions and designed its rigorous quality assurance regime for 2008 to encompass the following:
Evaluation and benchmarking of existing qualifications and curricula (Intended curriculum) and issuing authentic certificates
Ensuring through external moderation processes and benchmarking that assessments at exit points are of an acceptable standard and that the examinations are conducted in a credible manner through verifying the national and provincial monitoring systems (Examined curriculum)
Ensuring that standardisation processes are reliable, consistent and standardisation decisions upheld
Accrediting private institutions (schools, FET colleges and Adult Centres), and private assessment bodies to offer / assess the qualifications it certifies (Enacted curriculum)

10. Qualifications, Curriculum & Certification Unit (QCC)
The role of QCC is to ensure and enhance the status and quality of the qualifications Umalusi certifies. Quality assuring the qualifications and their related curricula is QCC’s contribution to the overall quality of the certificate which Umalusi issues. This function also oversees the issuing and verification of certificates.
(Qualifications: SC; NSC; N3; NCV 2 and 3; GETC: adults)

11. Qualifications, Curriculum & Certification
April 2008 – March 2009
COMMENTS
Policy development:
Framework of Qualifications in GFET & developed and consulted.
Criteria & guidelines for development and evaluation of qualifications and curricula developed.
Completed as per plan
Curriculum evaluated and benchmarked:
NSC Maintaining Standards project supported
GETC: Adults curriculum evaluated
Foundation phase curriculum evaluation commenced
Certificates issued, excluding subject certificates:
certificates printed across qualifications
certificates verified
Issued in line with directives and guidelines

12. Quality Assurance of Assessments Unit (QAA)
This function entails establishing, maintaining and improving standards and quality in assessment at exit points in General and Further Education and Training. In order to fulfil this function, Umalusi uses five key processes:
external moderation of question papers;
verification of monitoring the conduct of examinations;
external moderation of marking;
external moderation of continuous assessment; and
standardisation of assessment results.
(Qualifications: SC; NSC; N3; NCV 2 and 3; GETC: adults)

13. Quality Assurance of Assessment
April 2008 – March 2009
COMMENTS
Ext Moderation of Question Papers:
NSC: 338 papers (DoE + IEB + OAER )
ABET : DoE - 23 learning areas (23 X4 sets = 92 papers)
IEB - 6 learning areas (6 X4 sets = 24 papers)
N2-N3: papers
NCV level 2 : 40 papers ; NCV level 3: 28 papers
NCV level 3 ISAT (Integrated Summative Assessment task): 9
Completed as per plan
Report submitted to the Minister of Education on all exams
Moderation of marking:
NSC: 26 National (Centralised and On-site)
ABET: 4 learning areas across 9 PDE’s + IEB
N2- N3: 9 subjects
NCV level 2 : 8 subjects + 24 ISATs
NCV level 3 : 13 subjects + 13 ISATs
Completed per plan

14. Quality Assurance of Assessments
April 2008 – March 2009
COMMENTS
CASS:
NSC: 30 subjects across DoE, IEB and OAER
ABET: 2 Fundamental learning areas (LLC: English
and Mathematical Literacy) across 9 PDE’s and IEB
NCV: 21 level 2 and level 3 subjects sampled across
PDE’s
All CASS moderated as per plan
Report submitted to the Minister of Education on all exams
Verifying monitoring conduct of exams:
NSC: 217 sites
ABET: 64
N2 - N3 & NCV: 51 sites
All monitoring conducted as per plan

15. Quality Assurance of Assessments
April 2008 – March 2009
COMMENTS
CTA moderation for schools:
DoE: 18 learning areas
IEB: 10 learning areas
Completed as per plan
Standardisation:
NSC: DoE- 56 subjects;
IEB -56 subjects incl. non-official languages;
OAER - 27 subjects
N2- N3: 393 subjects (4 exams)
NCV level 2 : 54 subjects NCV level 3 : 55 subjects
ABET: DoE 23 learning areas (2 exams)
IEB 6 learning areas (2 exams)
Report submitted to the Minister of Education on all 2008 exams

16. Evaluation and Accreditation Unit
(E&A)
The evaluation and accreditation function is responsible for the accreditation and monitoring of private institutions offering the qualifications Umalusi certifies. The unit evaluates,
The capacity of education and training providers to implement registered qualifications and approved curriculum they seek accreditation for; and
The capacity of providers and assessment bodies to conduct practical, internal, and external assessment of learner achievement, leading to the issuing of registered qualifications by Umalusi.

17. Evaluation and Accreditation of Private Providers
Provisional Accreditation and Monitoring
March 2008 – April 2009
COMMENTS
Independent Schools:
450 monitored; 150 new Prov accredited
Completed per plan
Private FET Colleges:
86 monitored; 91 new learning sites Prov accredited
Registration
197 Umalusi providers recommended to DoE
171 SETA providers processed and referred to DoE
AET Centres:
23 monitored; 7 new centres Prov accredited

18. Evaluation and Accreditation of Private Providers
Institutional Site Visits
April 2008 – March 2009
COMMENTS
Independent schools - site visits
229
Completed
Private FET college sites visited
203
Private AET centres visited 7
Resubmission of regulatory framework for accreditation
Awaiting regulation

19. Evaluation and Accreditation of Assessment Bodies
April 2008– March 2009
COMMENTS
4 new applicants supported through development programme
2 AET assessment bodies
2 Vocational assessment bodies
Concluded per plan
Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and Onafhanklike Afrikaanse Eksamensraad (OAER) monitored
Evaluation of the assessment system for the National Certificate: Vocational
Project concluded – report published

20. Statistical Information and Research Unit
(SIR)
The mandate of the SIR unit is to conduct research as identified by the needs of the organisation and report on the key indicators of quality and standards in general and further education and training; the establishment and maintenance of databases; to lead statistical research and analysis; and to inform and provide statistical support for the work in other units. The SIR Unit also plays a role in organizational and professional development at Umalusi.

21. Statistical Information and Research
April 2008 – March 2009
Comment
Maintaining Standards Report:
- Part 1: Overview; -Part 2: Detailed Curricula Analysis
-Part 3: Detailed Exam Paper Analysis
Findings presented at the standardization meeting.
Signaling Performance: A report on the correlation between continuous assessment and exam mark
Report published May 2008
The role of IRT in selected examination system: A literature review on the item response theory and how it is used in different countries
Report published September 2008
Foundation Phase comparative curriculum evaluation
Practical Assessment: Best Practice
HESA equivalence setting
Conceptualised and commissioned

22. Management Support Structures (MSS)
Management Support Structures ensures that:
Strategic plans are in place and that the
organisation carries out its remit
Corporate Governance
Advocacy of Umalusi’s work
Stakeholders relationships

23. Management Support Structures
April 2008 – March 2009
COMMENTS
Strategic and business plans developed, implemented and monitored
New planning cycle developed and organisational reports published as required
Policies developed and implemented after Council approval
Performance evaluated and monitored quarterly
Organisational governance maintained
Council meetings conducted, committees supported and services rendered
PR and communications strategy implemented
Communication strategy implemented per plan
Stakeholder relationships established and managed
Relationships forged and maintained with political structures, DoE, and other statutory and quality assurance bodies

24. Information Technology Systems
April 2008 – March 2009
COMMENTS
Hardware procured
3 HP printers
7 personal computers
2 Servers
325 computer components
15 laptops
35 network points
Equipment installed with SLAs implemented and network support
meeting expectations.
Software
7 different applications
Software licensing up to date.
Programming
MIS development
Certification system
MIS project is ongoing improving operational output.
Certification system; NCV Level 4 system developed and NSC System implemented.
Network support
Business continuity
High availability solution in place for crucial servers. Disaster Recovery strategy was developed and agreed upon. The DRP is now in the process of development and will be completed by June 2009.

25. Finance, HRD & Admin Support
April 2008 – March 2009
COMMENTS
Finance, SCM and buildings
Unqualified audit (history of organization)
Creditors were paid within 30 days
Building Improvements - R 1,040 m
Upgrading of building to suit organizational requirements continues.
Undercover parking bays converted into additional office space, security was enhanced with CCTV and palisade fencing.
Human resources
Bursaries to staff – R
In house training – R
Short courses – R
All 74 staff benefited
Development of staff a priority with greater budget demands for 2009/10 and beyond

26. Financial Performance 2008/9
Revenue
Certification, verification and accreditation
Amount
27,019,914
Department of Education Grant
16,044,000
Interest and other income
3,370,454
Total Income
R 46,434,368
Expenditure
41,378,379
Surplus
R 5,055,989

27. Financial Position 2008/9 Assets 14,453,789 Property & equipment
14,290,658
Intangible assets
163,131
Current Assets
30,170,246
Trade & other receivables
5,047,446
Cash & cash equivalents
25,122,800
TOTAL ASSETS
R 44,624,035
Equity
Accumulated surplus
39,109,004
Liabilities
Trade & other payables
5,515,031
TOTAL EQUITY & LIABILITIES R

28. Total Income 2000/1 ( actual) to 2012/13 ( budget)
YEAR
INCOME
BUDGET
DoE GRANT
GRANT %
2000/01
R 6,150,786
2001/02
R 7,027,948
2002/03
R 13,757,861
R 1,513,000 11
2003/04
R 18,076,902
R 3,050,000 17
2004/05
R 23,547,626
R 12,869,000 55
2005/06
R 28,603,979
R 7,690,000 27
2006/07
R 32,972,345
R 10,286,000 31
2007/08
R 36,013,566
R 12,652,000 35
2008/09
R 46,434,368
R 16,044,000
2009/10
R 53,843,713
R 16,494,000
2010/11
R 69,481,474
R 17,350,000 25
2011/12
R 80,656,970
R 18,391,000 23
2012/13
R 92,723,528
R 19,311,000 21

29. Current Issues and the Way Forward
Certification of 2008 learners: Certification was concluded in August normally done in May /June - due to a revised look and format required by the Minister of Education
Later release of 2009 Matric results: This was agreed to ensure that Umalusi has the space to assure the resulting process before approval of results – new initiative to strengthen the quality assurance process

30. Current Issues and the Way Forward
Umalusi’s line of accountability: Split Ministry has placed Umalusi in a straddled position i.r.o its sub-framework of qualifications and quality assurance thereof
Funding model: With the declining grant percentage Umalusi has proposed to NDoE for a move from a certification fee to a Quality Assurance Levy

31. Conclusion
The NQF review finalization is welcomed - consultative processes have begun with the Departments of Basic and Higher Education, DOL(QCTO), and related stakeholders.
Thanks to the Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Ms F I Chohan and her members for their support.