Technical College Education
The department commissioned the National Business Initiative (NBI) to perform a
situational analysis of the technical college sector in Gauteng and specifically the 33
technical colleges in Gauteng. The report was completed in 1998 and a substantial
number of policy and operational recommendations were made. These recommendations
are being considered and the transformation of the sector may begin in 1999.
Draft legislation compiled as the College Education and Training Bill (1997) has been
finalised for the Cabinet and Legislature process. The framework for governance
regulations for the new legislation has been updated and refined.
A policy document on basic qualification requirements of lecturing staff at technical
colleges has been submitted to the National Department of Education. The newly devised
forms and procedures for payment and control of part-time salary claims have been
implemented. The Unit is still involved in the development of an instrument for CS
educator appraisal that will address the unique needs of colleges.
The department has played a major role in developing the curriculum framework and the
industry unit standards for the Learnership pilot project at Germiston College. In
association with many stakeholders, and role players within the Electrical Industry, and
the National DoE and the Germiston College. The project commenced in April 1998 and
the first students started their learnerships on 22 June 1998. Further to this
Bavarian/Gauteng project, an official of the department went on a study tour to
Germany to establish valuable links for further Learnership projects.
Through its active participation on the Co-ordinating Committee for Vocational
Education, as well as in Framework and Syllabus Committees, the department has
contributed to the development of policy on national curriculum structures and
curriculum development for technical colleges, including the developments in the
envisaged new FET system. The Unit met with a group of Further Education experts from
Britain and established valuable links with expertise in this field.
A number of college councils have been transformed in accordance with directives in line
with the new legislation that is pending.
The Unit co-ordinated building inspections by the Unit for Physical Planning to determine
the needs and costs of urgent repairs, upgrading and the building of new facilities at the
following colleges viz. Molapo, George Tabor, Lazarus Nlhapo, Thuto Matlhale, Eastside
and Highveld.
A considerable number of lecturing staff have been appointed in vacant posts either in a
permanent or temporary capacity, in approved posts on the 1998 staff establishments.
Colleges still find it difficult to recruit lecturing staff for specialised fields of study. The
latest developments in negotiations with labour organisations hampers the appointment
of suitable lecturing staff even further. No appointments of administrative staff have
been made due to the moratorium on these appointments. The situation now became
detrimental to the effective management of colleges.
German assisted vocational education
Further to the Unit’s participation in the first GEVETSA conference organised by the GTZ
(a network of organisations linked with German assisted vocational projects), an official
of the department investigated the British and German systems of learnerships during a
study tour to Britain and Germany. A number of proposals have been made and are
being considered