1. FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING (FET) COLLEGES

5. BROADENING ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION, AND IMPROVING ACHIEVEMENT  Collectively, the data suggests that there is room for increasing enrolment in the FET College system and that the primary focus of FET colleges should be the following target groups: Unemployed Matriculants Unemployed young people with Grades 11 and 10 Adults seeking to acquire specialist skills for meaningful economic participation.

6. Student headcount enrolment at FET colleges between 1987 and 2007

7. Proposed Expansion of Student Enrolment in the public FET Colleges YEARNATIONAL ENROLMENT 2007 25 000 2008 60 000 2009120 000 2010177 000 2011256 000 2012371 000 2013538 000 2014800 000

8. Student Enrolment Projections Student enrolment projections reflect  the Recapitalisation Grant investment per province and per college;  enrolment growth of between 43% and 46% is maintained;  throughput rate is improved to between 60% and 80%;  provinces make funding available to support student enrolment growth;  the infrastructure is used efficiently;  provinces continue to recapitalise colleges for infrastructure expansion.

9. Strategic vision A modern and vibrant nationally co- ordinated FET college system that builds the foundation for further learning and is responsive to the needs of the 21st century.

10. System features has its own specific identity and legislative sphere of operation. is responsive to the needs of society and the demands of the economic sectors. Consist of specialised niche or comprehensive institutions of excellence. Is accessible to economically active youth and adults outside of the school system, who wish to improve their skills, gain access to better jobs or to progress to higher education. provides and progressively expand access and progression through relevant and diverse open learning, high quality programmes at multiple sites of learning supported by appropriate infrastructure, equipment and ICT platforms. has extensive relevant partnerships and support from commerce and industry for the benefit of the students. is driven by programme based funding.

11. Mission To achieve this vision the Department commits itself to:  Providing the framework for co-ordinating and supporting the provision of high quality vocational programmes.  Intensifying programmes aimed at increasing youth access to FET Colleges and to improve retention and throughput rates  Ensuring quality provision of vocational qualifications by private FET colleges.  Developing and maintaining policies, systems and procedures to support efficient management and governance of FET colleges  Develop and maintain qualifications, programmes and curriculum policies to ensure quality teaching and learning in FET colleges  Co-ordinating lecturer training and development to ensure quality provision of vocational programmes

12. Provision Model NC(V) AET CDP’s HE Occupational Qualifications ECD PPP

13. National Policy Goals  The following policy goals derived from White Paper 4 provide a conceptual frame for the achievement of the vision and mission stated above: Creating a nationally coordinated system with a unique identity Broadening youth access, participation and improving achievement Entrenching quality and excellence Encouraging diversity Promoting institutional autonomy, responsiveness and relevance Monitoring systemic and institutional performance and fostering public accountability

14. Steering Mechanisms  Central co-ordination  Planning Choice of programme offerings (College Programme Mix) Student enrolment planning Funding  Development of new programmes  Governance and management  Reshaping the institutional landscape  Capacity and infrastructural development  National assessment system  Quality assurance  Regulating private provision of FET qualifications

15. Creating a nationally coordinated system with a unique identity  Defining the FET college sector identity  Students  Lecturers  Management  Governance  Establishing a central coordinating structure  Prioritising and targeting programmes and students  Reshaping the FET College institutional landscape:

16. Broadening access and participation and improving achievement  Capacity and infrastructural development  Student enrolment planning  Funding as a driver of access and quality  Student support services  Public FET Colleges’ bursary scheme  Student recruitment and selection strategy  Expansion and use of ICT  Interface between FE & HE

17. Entrenching quality and excellence  Qualification, programme and curriculum development  Centralised assessment, examinations and quality assurance systems  Lecturer training, development and support  Regulating provision of VET qualifications by private institutions

18. Promoting institutional autonomy, responsiveness and relevance  Supporting institutional autonomy  Through research and engagement with industry, continue to ensure the relevance and responsivenessof NC(V) programmes  Support the use of colleges for the offering of occupational learning programmes  Encourage the development of quality partnerships with: Industry and commerce Local communities (e.g.Formal AET programmes, Literacy, and ECD programmes State bodies (eg. SETAs)  Development, provision and evaluation of the SMME programmes  Provision and evaluation formal AET programme  Provision and evaluation of short skills courses

19. ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY  Provision model  Diversification: institutional and campus types  Diversification: programme offerings  Diversification: modes of provision  Public and private colleges

20. FET COLLEGE – BURSARIES  October 2006, Minister of Finance announced the allocation of college bursaries.  Rationale – provision of access to financially needy yet academically capable students into FET Colleges.  R600 million allocated over three years: o 2007 – R100 million (12 388 students benefitted) o 2008 – R200 million (37 790 students benefitted) o 2009 – R300 million (21 253 students benefitted until 30 July 2009, more expected to benefit by end Sept 09)  NSFAS – Administration & Management

21. Conditions and Criteria  Only South African Citizens are eligible for applying for the bursaries.  Only students enrolled or wishing to enrol on NC(V) programmes are eligible to apply.  Bursary allocations for Colleges are based on NC(V) enrolments, approved programmes & available funding.  Student bursary award is based on the administration of the Means Test tool – as a guide.

22. Conditions and Criteria continued…  Colleges make the final determination on which students are awarded bursaries.  Student bursary awards based on financial need and academic performance.  Students who are repeating an NC(V) Level are not eligible for a bursary.  NSFAS processes & pays out bursary funds to colleges.

23. FET Colleges Bursary Scheme  What the bursary may cover: o College fees o Textbooks o Academic levies o Accommodation o Travel

24. Roles and Responsibilities  Department of Education o Allocation of bursary funds to colleges. o Monitoring and support of the administration and management of the bursary scheme. o Training of colleges on the administration and management of the bursary scheme.  Provincial Departments of Education o Monitor and support colleges in the administration & management of the bursary scheme. o Training workshops on the bursary scheme.

25. Roles and Responsibilities continued…  Colleges o Student Support Services Officer/Manager - responsible. o Bursary Committee – Approval processes. o Marketing the DoE FET Colleges Bursary Scheme to students. o Administering student applications. o Awarding/rejecting student applications. o Submission of SoPs to NSFAS. o Advising students (in writing) of the outcome of their applications. o Submission of annual NSFAS online reports.

26. Discussion Thank you