South African Qualifications Authority

Annual Report 2006–2007

Samuel BA IsaacsExecutive Officer

South African Qualifications Authority23 October 2007

Overview of presentation

• Achievements

• Challenges

• Way forward

Achievements

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

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

Analysis based on the

National Learners’ Records Database

Trends in Public Higher Education in South Africa

1995 to 2004

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.

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

Sample page: Trends by Broad Field of Study

Largest average annual growth: Business and Management SciencesLowest average annual growth: Social Sciences and HumanitiesSecond lowest: Engineering Sciences and Technology

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

Strategic advocacy

• Publications:SAQA Update, Bulletin.

• Media: Engineering News, Business Brief, CEO magazine, Govt Digest

• NQF Support Link• SAQA website • NQF Gateway

Professional qualifications

• Research report

• Establishment of review panel

• Consultative workshop with 200 delegates

• Review panel recommendations

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

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)

International liaison

• European Qualifications Framework

• SADC initiatives

• Seychelles Qualifications Authority

• Mauritius Qualifications Authority

• 9 international delegations visited SAQA

Foreign qualifications

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

2004/2005: 6346 2005/2006: 8420 2006/2007: 14382

Number ofapplicationsreceived

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

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

People development

• Staff Performance and recognition programme implemented

• Training and development programme implemented

• Investors In People (IIP) standard until 2009• Broadbanding

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.

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

Summary of budget/expenditure per programme

Programme Budget for 2006/2007 Budget Expenses Net

Programme 1National Standards Setting and Development 15,999,258 15,064,494 934,764

Programme 2National Quality Assurance and Development 4,121,449 3,464,367 657,082

Programme 3National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD)  3,581,390 3,320,556 260,834

Programme 4National Centre for the Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications 5,000,000 4,873,135 126,865

Programme 5 Administration and Support5.1 Executive Office including Secretariat5.2 Finance and Administration5.3 Human Resources5.4 Information Technology5.5 Strategic Support

5.5.1 Communications5.5.2 Research5.5.3 Resource Centre

36,985,753 30,331,140 6,654,613

Totals 65,687,850 57,053,692 8,634,158

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.

Challenges

• NQF review process

• Ensure that SAQA’s role is clearly defined

• Relationships with partners dramatically improved

Way forward

• Changing landscape of education and training

• SAQA actively involved in the development of 3 QCs

• Transitional arrangements

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

The end

Questions?

South African Qualifications Authority

Annual Report 2006–2007

Samuel BA IsaacsExecutive Officer

South African Qualifications Authority23 October 2007