The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

he Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) has admitted that 8580 Sector Education Training Authorities (SETA) certificates have been outstanding for more than six months. In response  to a DA parliamentary question the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, attempted to abdicate responsibility for the problem by blaming training service providers.

The fact that the department run SETA’s choose the service providers and that 13 of the 21 SETA’s are involved highlights the inefficiencies of the Department with regard to selecting these training providers.

The Minister has had over six months to address the problem and must show leadership, not pass the buck.

These outstanding SETA certificates follow the Minister’s admission that 22 190 Further Education and Training (FET) certificates have been outstanding for over 6 months.

I will be submitting follow up questions to the Minister to get clarity on the following:
What criteria is used to select service providers;
what service providers did not perform and comply with their mandates;
how these underperforming service providers and SETA’s will be held to account?
I will also be writing to the chairperson of the Higher Education Portfolio committee, Mr Motswane Ishmael Malale, to request that Minister Nzimande be called before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education to outline his plans to address the problem of certificate issuing and that of underperforming SETAs and training service providers.

By not providing them with proof of their training, the DHET is becoming an obstacle rather than a catalyst for our young people to get access to the job market. Waiting periods of more than six months for certificates are not acceptable. Our nation’s youth need jobs today.