South African Qualifications Authority

1. South African Qualifications Authority Annual Report 2006–2007 Samuel BA Isaacs Executive Officer South African Qualifications Authority 23 October 2007

2. Overview of presentation • Achievements • Challenges • Way forward

3. Achievements

4. Qualifications • Registered three NC: Vocational qualifications at NQF Levels 2, 3 and 4 to support the DoE’s recapitalisation of FET colleges • Registered qualifications to professionalise Public Service as a result of JIP with the DPSA

5. Scarce skills • Responded to JIPSA by • Initiating a review and revision of trade qualifications in the manufacturing and engineering sector • Registering internationally comparable qualifications in Welding • Participated in JIPSA technical working group

6. Trends in Public Higher Education in South Africa1995 to 2004 Analysis based on theNational Learners’ Records Database

7. Trends in higher education • Completed a report on ‘Trends in Public Higher Education in South Africa 1995 to 2004’ • Launched by Minister of Education • National Learners’ Records Database is increasingly seen as the key national database for education and training.

8. In the Report: • 54 work-related fields of study, grouped into 5 broad fields • Trends per field of study, qualification type and level, population group, and gender. Analysis of SA ‘pool’ in the same categories. • Of benefit to: Labour Market and Educational analysis and decision-making; Employment Equity Planning; Academic Planning

9. Sample page: Trends by Broad Field of Study Largest average annual growth: Business and Management Sciences Lowest average annual growth: Social Sciences and Humanities Second lowest: Engineering Sciences and Technology

10. Research • Building SAQA’s research capacity to provide intellectual leadership • Uptake and impact of qualifications in early childhood development • Doing research on Recognition of Prior Learning in conjuction with OECD

11. Strategic advocacy • Publications:SAQA Update, Bulletin. • Media: Engineering News, Business Brief, CEO magazine, Govt Digest • NQF Support Link • SAQA website • NQF Gateway

12. Professional qualifications • Research report • Establishment of review panel • Consultative workshop with 200 delegates • Review panel recommendations

13. Commonwealth • Research conducted by SAQA • The recognition of teacher qualifications and professional registration status across Commonwealth member states • Working group held 28 – 29 Sept 2006 in Tshwane • Report published and presented at 16th Commonwealth Council of Education Ministers, 10–14 December 2006 in Cape Town

14. NQF colloquium • Theme: “The NQF as a socially inclusive and cohesive system” • Jim Gallacher (Scotland) • Samuel Isaacs (SAQA) • Ben Parker and Ken Harley (SAQA) • Molapo Qhobela (DoE) • Yusef Waghid (Stellenbosch Univ) • Mary Metcalfe (Wits Univ)

15. International liaison • European Qualifications Framework • SADC initiatives • Seychelles Qualifications Authority • Mauritius Qualifications Authority • 9 international delegations visited SAQA

16. Foreign qualifications

17. Foreign qualifications • 71% increase in applications from the last financial year • Developed a trends report of persons with foreign qualifications entering South Africa • Top 7 countries - Zimbabwe, India, DRC, Nigeria, UK, Lesotho, Peoples’ Republic of China

18. Quality Assurance • Progressed from monitoring compliance auditing to performance auditing of ETQAs • Carried out targeted monitoring interventions in high-risk areas such as firearm and driver training

19. People development • Staff Performance and recognition programme implemented • Training and development programme implemented • Investors In People (IIP) standard until 2009 • Broadbanding

20. Employment Equity • SAQA targets aligned with latest census on economically active population. • Overall we meet our targets, however we exceed target in respect of white females. • SAQA focuses on skills development for all employees to ensure effective delivery of mandate. • Human Resources on page 31 of AR provide snapshot of EE status as at 31 March 2007.

21. Information Technology • Implementing integrated IT solutions to improve service delivery • Registration module for applications for the evaluation of foreign qualifications • NQF gateway upgrade • Community Gateway improvements in usability and security • Goldmine Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software • ACCPAC financial system

22. Summary of budget/expenditure per programme

23. Finances • Spent 87% of budget • 7% (R4.5m) was budgeted for parking garage and repairs to the west façade. Although work had started payment was only due in next financial year. • 6% under spent. • 10th Unqualified Audit Report.

24. Challenges • NQF review process • Ensure that SAQA’s role is clearly defined • Relationships with partners dramatically improved

25. Way forward • Changing landscape of education and training • SAQA actively involved in the development of 3 QCs • Transitional arrangements

26. Contact Details: • www.saqa.org.za - read more about the report, and print out the order form, or • Phone 012 431 5050 / 012 431 5156, or • Fax 012 431 5051

27. The end Questions?

28. South African Qualifications Authority Annual Report 2006–2007 Samuel BA Isaacs Executive Officer South African Qualifications Authority 23 October 2007