1

FET Bill for public and private colleges

6 September 2006

2

Goal of FET Colleges

• Increase number of learners on programmes that lead to employment / higher education / priority skills programmes

3

Current provision

School system 12 million learners

FET Colleges 400 000 students

Higher Education 700 000 students

4

Programme Business Engineering Other Total

NIC/NSC 20 000 9 000 4 000 33 000

N1 – N3 13 500 131 000 6 500 151 000

N4 – N6 73 500 54 000 6 000 133 500

Other 9 500 17 000 29 000 55 500

Total 117 000 211 000 45 000 373 000

5

FET Colleges

• Huge increase in enrolment over the last five years

• Race and gender profile of learners has changed

• Need to accelerate enrolment and improve quality of programmes offered

6

Steps taken to transform FET Colleges

• Develop new programmes• Re-capitalisation aims to spend R1,9 billion on

infrastructure, equipment, lecturers and administrative systems to deliver new programmes

• New funding formula and support for students• Staff training• Governance, management and staffing • Registration of private colleges

7

Re-

Re-capitalisation of FET Colleges

• Phase out outdated N 1 – 6 programmes over 2007 - 2009 and introduce new programmes that meet the needs of the economy

• Accelerate access to these programmes through provision of modern infrastructure, IT, equipment and new funding formula

8

Determining Priority Skills Programmes for SA

Step 1• Determine what employers want, that is,

relevant skills / vocational programmes: high and intermediary level skills including artisans

Step 2• Determine sectors for programmes

according to ASGI-SA: 13 sectorsStep 3• Determine modalities for offering

programmes: full-time; part-time; flexible

9

Step 1: What do employers want

• Good communication skills and problem solving skills and information technology skills: translates into reading, writing, calculating and IT = fundamentals

• Background or conceptual knowledge and applied knowledge: theory, practicals and workplace experience

10

Step 2: Which sectors require skills

11 sectors chosen according to priority skills needs and needs of ASGI-SA

Three engineering including building and civil

Four business (finance, office administration, management, marketing)

IT Agriculture Tourism and Hospitality Studies

11

Design of new vocational programmes

• National Certificate consisting of seven subjects

• Three compulsory subjects: language, mathematics or mathematical literacy and Life Skills (IT)

• Four vocational subjects: each with theory and practical component

12

National Certificate

(Manufacturing and Assembly) Compulsory Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Subject 4

NC(Level 2)

LanguageMathsLife Skills

Engineering Fundamentals

Engineering technology

Engineering Systems

Automotive Repair OR

NC(Level 3)

LanguageMathsLife Skills

Engineering Practice and maintenance

Material technology

Engineering graphics and Design

Engineering Fabrication OR

NC(Level 4)

LanguageMathsLife Skills

Engineering Processes

Professional Engineering Practice

Applied Engineering Technology

Fitting and Turning

13

Step 3: Modalities for delivery of skills

• One year full-time programmes for out-of-school youth

• Part-time study for employed for fundamentals and / or vocational

• Time-tabling and funding are challenges but not insurmountable

14

Pathways to employment Apprentice-ship

Learnership National Certificate

Fundamentals (academic)

MathsScience

√√ √√

Theory √√ √√ √√

Applied theory (practical)

√√ √√ √√

Work-place experience

√√ √√ X

15

FET Bill

Provides for • Establishment, governance, funding of public

FET Colleges• Employment of staff• Registration of private FET colleges• Promotion of quality assurance• Transitional arrangements

16

Conclusion

• FET Bill aims to provide the legislative support for rapid skills development

• It protects learners and lecturers in the provision of high quality programmes