Green Paper on Further Education and Training

GREEN PAPER

ON FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

PREPARING FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORK

15 APRIL 1998

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, PRETORIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword
Acknowledgements

CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND

1. Introduction
2. The Green Paper process
3. A definition of FET
4. The provision of FET
5. The commitment of the Ministry to the transformation of FET
6. A developmental approach
What this chapter means in practice

CHAPTER 2 WHY CHANGE IS ESSENTIAL

1. Introduction
2. Inefficiencies of South Africa's FET system
3. Changing social demands
4. New economic realities
5. The need for a multi-pronged FET strategy
6. Responsiveness to diversity
What this chapter means in practice

CHAPTER 3 A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR FET

1. The cental pillars of a new policy framework for FET
2. The key implications of this new framework
What this chapter means in practice

CHAPTER 4 QUALIFICATIONS, LEARNING PROGRAMMES,
CURRICULUM AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

1. Introduction - the agenda
2. The breadth and depth of learning programmes and qualifications
3. SAQA requirements on breadth and depth of qualifications
4. Career guidance and support services
5. The structure of learning programmes and qualifications
6. Higher education learning programmes and qualifications offered by FET colleges
7. Distance education and resource-based learning
8. Developing qualifications, learning programmes and curricula
9. A quality assurance system for FET
10. Assessment
11. Efficiency, repetition and admission policy
What this chapter means in practice

CHAPTER 5 FUNDING

1. Introduction
2. The present funding system
3. Future challenges
4. The division of financial responsibilities
5. A new funding framework
6. Implementing the new funding framework
7. Funding methods
8. Some specific funding issues
9. Implementation plan
What this chapter means in practice

CHAPTER 6 GOVERNANCE, INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEGISLATION

1. The present position
2. Principles
3. A new governance framework
4. Institutional governance
5. Institutional development
6. Legislation
7. Implementation
What this chapter means in practice

CHAPTER 7 IMPLEMENTING THE GREEN PAPER

1. A strategy for implementation
2. Time frames for change
3. Task Teams
4. Transformation Steering Committee
5. Piloting, planning and funding
6. Next steps
7. Implementation of FET transformation
What this chapter means in practice

APPENDICES

Acronyms and abbreviations
Definition of concepts

FOREWORD

I am pleased to release this Green Paper on Further Education and Training (FET). The release of this Green Paper follows substantive consultations conducted by the National Committee on Further Education (NCFE). The NCFE, a Ministerial committee, was appointed on 18 September 1996. Its brief was to investigate the FET sector and advise on all aspects of post-compulsory education and training prior to entry into higher education or work. The committee was requested to make recommendations regarding a plan and time frames for implementation, evaluation and further development regarding the sector. The report was handed to me on 14 August 1997.

The present Green Paper is the first step in the formulation of policy for FET and follows consultations within the Department as well as the Steering Committee, made up of my Department and the Department of Labour.

A well developed FET sector in South Africa will no doubt make a considerable contribution to the envisioned economic growth of the country. The reason for this is that this sector is situated at the intersection of a wide range of government policies, which are critical to the new information-based economy. These include macro-economic, industrial, labour market and human resource development policies. Government co-ordination across these domains is key to their success and to the establishment of a policy framework which will promote the development of the human capacities, knowledge and skills of our people.

The achievement of our national goals will require nothing less than a collective effort from all our partners, both in the public and private sectors. The policies developed in this Green Paper are complementary to the Skills Development Strategy of the Department of Labour in that both are intended to set in motion lifelong learning, employability and increased productivity in our country.

The publication of this Green Paper marks the beginning of further discussions on the nature, direction and organisation of the FET sector, which until now has been characterised by inefficiency, fragmentation and variable levels of quality. The Department of Education and I are looking forward to the discussions, written comments and responses that will assist us in developing a government White Paper and associated legislation for FET.

I take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated and contributed in various forms in this Green Paper process, and also those from whom comments are awaited.

PROFESSOR S.M.E. BENGU
MINISTER OF EDUCATION

APRIL 1998

Acknowledgements

The Department of Education wishes to record its appreciation to the following for their assistance in the preparation and production of the Green Paper on Further Education and Training:

Dr Andre Kraak, Mr Glen Fisher, Mr Motsumi Makhene, Ms Shirley Steenekamp and Dr Jane Hofmeyr

International Consultants
Dr Bill Hall (Australia), Dr William Sennet (Canada), Dr Stan Koplick (USA ), Mr Rob de Kiewit (Netherlands), Mr Jan de Kanter (Netherlands) and Dr Luis Crouch (USA).

Members of the Steering Committee
Representing the Department of Education: Mr Khetsi Lehoko, Dr Peet le Roux, Dr Nomsa Mgijima, Adv Eben Boshoff, Ms Gugu Nxumalo, Mr Ahmed Essop, Mr Andre Reyneke, Ms Salama Hendricks, Mr Vis Naidoo, Mr Cashief Lombard and Dr Daan Visser.

Representing the Department of Labour: Ms Adrienne Bird, Dr Peliwe Lolwana, Mr Sam Morotoba, Mr Lindsay Falkov and Ms Nkhabele Prusent.

Administration and technical support
Mrs Sandra Sooklal, Ms Itumeleng Mathibe and Ms Nandi Ntsaluba.