A National Coordinated Response to the Water Sector Human Resource Development Challenges

1. A National Coordinated Response to the Water Sector Human Resource Development Challenges By Portia Makhanya National Champion: Water Sector Skills Development Task team

2. Purpose • To share strategic vision of the sector on skills development and water education • Solicit partnerships for sustainable responses to the skills crisis

3. Extracts: SONA 11 Feb 2010 “We have placed education and skills development at the centre of this government’s policies.” “We have also set ambitious targets for skills development, to produce additional engineers and technicians, and to increase the number of qualified mathematics and science teachers.” “We are not a water rich country. Yet we still lose a lot of water through leaking pipes and inadequate infrastructure. We will be putting in place measures to reduce our water loss by half by 2014.” “This government will ensure that our environmental assets and natural resources are well protected, and are continually enhanced.” 3

4. Budget Speech: 17 Feb • Economic transformation and social cohesion • We are deeply mindful that economic development and public service delivery are about much more than the numbers through which we measure progress. As development economist Amiya Bagchi has observed, successful developmental states are built not just through public policy and state action, but also • through national identity, social cohesion and • responsible citizenship and • through building social capital that reinforces trust and cooperation, in the place of conflict andfragmentation 4

5. Budget Speech: 17 Feb Climate change and concerns over global energy supply present both challenges and opportunities for South Africa. Industries must be helped to manage scarce resources more efficiently and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through appropriate pricing of energy. This is necessary to enable investment in sustainable technologies. Green economy initiatives will create new opportunities for enterprise development, job creation and the renewal of commercial and residential environments. This must play a part in our new growth path. 5

6. Budget Speech 17 Feb Expanding and improving capacity at our FET colleges is a vital part of our growthstrategy. 10%functional, generic and differentiated, We have set ourselves ambitious targets to expand the number of young people studying vocational subjects. The budget for FET colleges of R12 billion over three years, has been shifted from provinces to the national department. A further R1.3 billion is allocated to improve the salaries of FET college educators. 6

7. New Macro-Framework for Skills and Human Resource Development The National Strategic Plan plan must articulate the type of society we seek to create and outline the path towards a more inclusive society where the fruits of development benefit all South Africans, particularly the poor Statement: Min Trevor Manual. 7

8. Medium Term Strategic Framework(12) • Priorities applicable to sector • Growth, transforming, economy, sustainable livelihoods • Economic and social infrastructure/ water infrastructure • Rural Development strategy/ food security/ agriculture training colleges • HRD … schools, post-secondary and HE system • Health • Sustainable communities • African advancement • Sustainable resource management/ WfGD/ DWA strategic plan 8

9. Government Planning Processes and the Location of the Sector Water, Environment And Sustainable Development Skills HRD-SA 9

10. National Planning Strategy WfGD Sustainable Resource Management HRDSA 10

11. Risk-based Prioritisation to inform & direct water services support interventionsRisk Rating of Water Services Provision Functional / coping water services At risk High risk – potential to become within 8 months Crisis. Extremely high risk of disease outbreaks • Critical risk areas: Under Administration / Wastewater treatment capacity / Blue Drop and Green Drop results / Regulatory actions initiated, Lack of Technical Skills incl Process Controllers • 9% of munics are in severe crisis – contamination, disease • 38% most likely to reach same ‘crisis’ within 8 months • A further 42% at risk to reach similar high risk profiles, if early intervention and turnaround not actioned (DWA, Oct 2009) 11 11

12. Current Response to Education and Skills Development JIPSA, 2025 Vision for HRD, 2020 Vision for WSFEP, Learning Academy Regulation’s : Aqua Enduro; Working for Water; WSSCU Deployment of Engineers / unemployed graduate programme Training of Operators ESETA/ LGSETA FET Water Other DWAF initiatives for Education and Skills development National Sanitation Programme Unit and Vulindlela Academy Training on Job creation project in sanitation Sectoral Initiatives on education & skills development Dinaledi Project: DOE and DST Municipal Indaba Action Plan 12

14. Main Concerns • Part of the skills shortage and low water literacy challenges can be attributed to an UNSUSTAINABLE and fragmented approach to education, training and public awareness within DWAF. • The HRD/ Skills development visioning exercise confirmed this fragmented approach and raise the questions of sector leadership, the location of responsibility, etc. • The 5 municipal indaba skills resolutions require a coordinated education, training and public awareness programme. • The Skills Action Plan which flow from the Municipal Actions Implementation and Monitoring Framework needs to be located in an all-inclusive strategy that is guided by the WfGD Framework. • The municipal indaba skills resolutions are substantive steps forward. However, the resolutions focus on human resource processes such as workplace skills plans, retention strategies, etc as disjointed from a broader education and training strategy. Thus, it is geared more towards “managing” skills shortages and less geared towards having a “sustained response” to it. 14

15. Water for Growth and Development Framework • Economic growth target • Access to potable water • Sustainability of resource Human security Sustainable Democracy and Livelihoods Education Training Water Literacy Water for Growth and Development Framework is dependent on an innovative, comprehensive and coherent education and training strategy 15

17. Skills Task Team Role National Functions to ensure Coordinated Response to Meet the Sector Skills Development Challenge • INTELLIGENCE • Info & data • Matching demand & supply • Critical Analysis • Research • Information Network • PLANNING • Strategic Objectives • National Target setting • Strategy Alignment • KPIs • QUALITY ASSURANCE • Tracking progress • Strategic level reporting • Performance Monitoring • Evaluation STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY • RESOURCES • Identifying funding sources • Facilitating access to finance • COORDINATION • Communication • Partnerships • Role Clarity • ADVOCACY • Political & leadership buy-in • Inter-sector engagement • Mainstreaming Water into • Education & Training • Water Literacy 17 17

18. An Integrated Sectoral Approach:Sustainable Development and Sustainable Resource Use • DoBE • Schools • Curriculum • Etc Water Energy Environment Bio-diversity Sustainable Development • DHET • Post school system • HRDSA • Skills 18

19. Why is engagement with Education? • Bringing together of Higher Education Institutions, FET Colleges and the Skills Sector into a single Ministry of Higher Education and Training provides a powerful basis for addressing education and training in an integrated way. • The Ministry has the responsibility to develop the country’s education and training institutional capacity and resources into a coherent but diverse and differentiated post school learning system serving adults and youth within the framework of the HRD-SA • Ensuring roll-out of curriculum aligned resource materials

20. What should we do differently Pipeline Approach Across educational bands (GET,FET,HET) Immediate response to address critical skills gaps and systematic approach to meet the long term human resource needs for the sector 20

21. Education & Training Pipeline PerspectiveDWA skills development strategies: from reactive to pro-active Sectoral Excellence and Innovation GET GR-9 FET GR10-12 HET Workplace Skills Development 21

22. Strategic Level One Achieve water literacy in South Africa to affect positive attitudinal and behavioural change to water value and water use 22

23. Framework for Water Literacy? • A comprehensive water education programme at schools (formal education) – comprising curriculum infusion, teacher development and resource material development • A comprehensive public awareness programme (non-formal education) – comprising directed campaigns, multimedia program & community outreach are aligned to formal education program

24. Water Literacy FORMAL EDUCATION (Water Education in all Education Bands and Learning areas) NONFORMAL EDUCATION (Public Awareness Programme) Strategic Level One Two Pillars 24

25. Strategic Level Two Sufficient, appropriately skilled water sector professionals able to meet current and future needs of the sector to achieve water for growth and development 25

26. Summary - Strategic Level 2:Four Pillars Sufficient and Appropriate Water Sector Skills Water Focus FET Colleges HET Institution and Learner Support Effective Workplace Skills Programs Sectoral Skills Intelligence, Tracking, Research and Innovation 26

27. Sector Intelligence • Become the basis on which Sector makes decisions on this public education and skills development programme; • Provide for real time information on where the skills shortages are and the nature of the skills shortage • This information will also guide the intake requirements and guidelines at HET levels to ensure there is not an over or under supply of graduates in a particular field in water sector • Guide the development of curricula particularly in the FET and HET education bands based on current challenges, future needs of the sector to deliver water for growth and development; and the changing nature of the water sector • Identify the areas in which collaboration and partnerships could be developed as well as the areas in which lobbying is required to assist the achievement of the objectives of this project • To track the development and sustain the link between water education, water literacy and skills development • Guide the project choices of the FET aligned or focused water schools and HET institutions around which innovative solutions are required; as well as guide the themes for any competitions and awards

28. DWA Sectoral Leadership Water Literacy in South Africa Formal Education GET/FET/HET Sustainable Water Resource Use Water for Growth and Development Non-Formal Education Appropriate, relevant, innovative highly skilled water sector Water Focus FET Colleges HET Support Programme Work Skills Development Sectoral Excellence and Innovation Water Sector Skills Intelligence Research Innovation Support Program Skills Tracking Mechanism In the end… it is to achieve water for growth and development

30. Thank You!!