Presentation%20to%20the%20Portfolio%20Committee%20on%20Higher%20Education%20and%20Training%20Role%20of%20Umalusi%20in%20the%20Higher%20Education%20and%20Training%20Sector

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Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on
Higher Education and TrainingRole of Umalusi
in the Higher Education and Training Sector

• 30 October 2013
• Dr Mafu S Rakometsi
• Chief Executive Officer

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About the name Umalusi

• The name is derived from the Nguni uMalusi
  meaning shepherd or herder, or, in the
  African context, guardian of the family assets
• Umalusi is to take care of some of the nations
  most valued possessions general and further
  education and training

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Role of Umalusi

• Umalusi is the Quality Council for general and
  further education and training
• Umalusi is responsible for the GFETQSF
• The Council ensures that the providers of
  education and training have the capacity to
  deliver and assess qualifications and learning
  programmes on the GFETQSF and are doing so to
  expected standards of quality
• Umalusi certificates these qualifications

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Establishment of Umalusi

• Established through the promulgation of the
  General and Further Education and Training
  Quality Assurance Act, 2001 (GENFETQA Act) (Act
  number 58 of 2001, as amended 2008)
• Two predecessors, namely the Joint Matriculation
  Board - JMB (1918) and the South African
  Certification Council - SAFCERT (1986)
• Umalusi started work in 2002 having taken over
  from SAFCERT

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Establishment of Umalusi

• Umalusi was established as a band education and
  training quality assurance body under the
  GENFETQA Act in 2001 (NQF levels 1-4)
• Quality Assuring exit point assessments for
  qualifications in schools (National Senior
  Certificate), FET Colleges (N3, NCV) and for
  Adult (GETC)
• Accrediting Independent schools, private FET
  Colleges and Adult Learning Centres as well as
  private assessment bodies

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Statutory Mandate of Umalusi - 2001

• Monitor and report on norms and standards of
  curriculum and assessments
• Provide for the quality assurance of assessment
• Issue certificates at exit points
• Institutional accreditation
• Provide for the development of a national
  framework for quality assurance of GFET
• Repeal the SAFCERT Act

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Umalusi Amended Mandate - 2009Standard Setting
and Quality Assurance

• In 2007 the review of the Implementation of the
  NQF was completed and in 2008 the GENFETQA Act
  was amended creating Umalusi as one of three
  Quality Councils with extended mandates, the
  other two being Council on Higher Education and
  the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations
• Informed by Section 28 of the NQF Act and the
  amended GENFETQA Act of 2008 and GENFETQA Act no
  58 of 2001 amended 2008
• Responsible for the development and management of
  the sub-framework for GFET and the related
  quality assurance processes
• QA of qualifications and curriculum
• QA of assessment
• QA of provision (public and private education
  training and assessment)

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Standard Setting and Quality Assurance

• Traditionally and presently Umalusi quality
  assures the qualifications in schools (SC and
  NSC) in colleges (N3 NSC vocational, NCV) in
  adult learning centres (GETC for adults) the
  GFETQSF (gazetted ) includes these qualifications
  and some new proposals.
• Research i.r.o the GFETQSF
• Make recommendations /advise the Minister
  regarding the GFETQSF

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Approach to Standard Setting

• Standards are set in a variety of ways and
  located in a number of places namely
• - In the design of the qualification e.g. the
  pass requirements
• - In the supporting curriculum e.g. depth and
  breadth of the content and the cognitive
  demand

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Approach to Standard Setting

• - In the assessment e.g. the model
  (centralised) and cognitive demand and
  spread of questions
• - In the enactment of the curriculum i.e.
  teaching practices, the manner in which
  curriculum is delivered
• - In short the intended curriculum, the
  enacted curriculum and the assessed curriculum
• - Standards and QA informed by Research

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Umalusis Reporting Lines

• After the 2009 elections the DoE was split into
• DBE and DHET
• Presidential Proclamation on reporting lines
• All QCs report to the Ministry of Higher
  Education and Training on the NQF.
• Umalusi reports to the DBE on the Strategic Plan,
  Budget, Annual Report etc. whilst the QCTO, CHE
  and SAQA report on these to the DHET

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Umalusis Reporting Lines cont.

• Umalusi services the Department of BE on the NSC.
• Umalusi services the Department of HET on the
  NCV, NATED and GETC.

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Broad Challenges

• Operational
• Different understandings/interpretations of
  Umalusis role i.r.o NQF implementation
• Reporting on Umalusi Mandate regarding DHET
  accountable to Portfolio Committee on HET
• Funding

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Broad Challenges

• Sector Specific (Green Paper and White Paper)
• Post School Education (FET AET)
• NEET Group
• Positioning of Colleges and Adult Learning
  Centres

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Organisational Structure
15 Members 3 CEOs SAQA and 2 QCs

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Qualifications, Curriculum Certification (QCC)
Unit

• The QCC Unit is concerned with the development
  of a sub-framework of qualifications for GFET
  and certification of such qualifications
• Quality assuring qualifications and curriculum
• Certification of learner achievements
• Verifying the authenticity of qualifications

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Qualifications, Curriculum Certification Unit

• Currently Umalusi certifies the following
  qualifications
• The National Senior Certificate (NSC)
• The Senior Certificate (SC) phasing out 2014
• The National Certificate Vocational (NCV)
• National Technical Certificate N3
• General Education and Training Certificate for
  adults

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Qualifications, Curriculum Certification Unit

• Umalusi has also proposed the following new
  qualifications namely
• NASCA an alternative NSC for adults
• Approved by Council
• Approved by Minister of HET and gazetted
• Structure of qualification now being contested
• NIC National Independent Certificate (also for
  adults)-
• intention submitted to Minister HE awaiting
  approval
• GETCA- General Education and Training for Adults
• approved by Council
• ECE Elementary Certificate of Education

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ChallengesQualifications, Curriculum
Certification

• Different interpretations of who is responsible
  for Qualifications process for registration of
  Qualifications
• Different interpretations of who is responsible
  for Curriculum Development and funding thereof
• DHET Resulting Systems
• SITA issues inability to deliver (Service
  level agreement is between the DHET and SITA)
• Payment for Certification
• Location / review of NATED N1-N3
• Review of the NC(V)
• Implementation of the NC(V)

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Quality Assurance of Assessment Unit

• The main function of this Unit is to make sure
  that assessment leading to the award of
  certificates in schools, adult education centres
  and further education and training colleges is of
  the required standard. This is in order to ensure
  that the certificates issued by Umalusi are
  credible.
• This is achieved through moderation of question
  papers, moderation of internal assessment,
  monitoring examinations, moderation of marking
  and standardisation of results.

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ChallengesQuality Assurance of Assessment

• Sample of Question Papers moderated
• Budgetary constraints
• Lack of expertise /capacity (Umalusi and DHET)
• Transitional arrangements- Role of PDEs in
  administering/monitoring examinations.
• Marking Model Decentralised marking for NCV
  level 2 and 3 NATED N1-N2
• DHET IT systems for resulting and certification
• Question Paper Leakages

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Evaluation and Accreditation Unit

• The Evaluation and Accreditation Unit accredits
  and monitors private providers of education and
  training to offer qualifications certified by
  Umalusi. These are independent schools, private
  further education and training colleges and
  private adult education and training providers .
• It also accredits private assessment bodies and
  monitors the quality of assessment offered by the
  private assessment system (Independent
  Examinations Board (IEB) and others).
• Currently no independent assessment body for VET

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ChallengesEvaluation and Accreditation

• Accreditation of FET Colleges by Umalusi and
  Registration by DHET
• Capacity of Private FET Colleges (Physical and
  Human Resources)
• Public Colleges Quality of Management and
  Quality of Teaching
• No DHET registration process for AET centres
• PALCs Quality of Management and Quality of
  Teaching

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Statistical Information and Research (SIR) Unit

• Conducts and commissions research projects to
  enhance our systems and processes of quality
  assurance, and to inform our strategic direction.
  
• Umalusi has established a Research Forum,
  consisting of a selection of leading educational
  researchers in South Africa, who provide guidance
  in terms of (1) conceptualising the research
  agenda, (2) strengthening the research function,
  (3) assisting with the design of research
  projects and (4) evaluating the outcomes of
  research conducted.
• The SIR Unit also organises seminars, conferences
  and public events to enhance public debate on key
  educational matters as well as to share our
  research findings in important areas and to
  contribute to a growing understanding in South
  Africa of the complexities of quality in
  education.

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Corporate Services Unit

• The Corporate Services Unit ensures the
  effective, efficient and cost-effective
  utilization of all organisational resources.
• It is responsible for central support to the
  organisation, giving priority to financial
  management, through the establishment of a
  credible accounting system which is monitored by
  the Audit and Risk Committee of Council as well
  as regular reporting to the Executive Committee
  (EXCO) and the Council.

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Corporate Services Unit

• The finance function also includes the management
  of assets and facility management.
• Human resource management and development placing
  more and more emphasis on human resource training
  and development.
• Information technology, which ensures the latest
  technological infrastructure and systems to
  support the work of the organisation and the
  Management Information System.

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Corporate Services Unit

• Overall support to strategic and organisational
  matters through ensuring the establishment of
  systems and processes that are continuously
  improved.

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ChallengesCorporate Services

• Ensuring compliance to all legislative prescripts
  becomes a challenge with entities i.t.o. its size
  and resources (However managed and in place
  through regular risk mitigation)
• Recruitment of adequately skilled staff due to
  natural attrition and increase in mandate (also
  time to fill posts)

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ChallengesCorporate Services

• Ensuring that ITC governance and systems are
  supporting policy mandate (i.t.o expense and
  individual competencies and capacity)
• Funding to meet Umalusi mandate is taken on
  progressively, whilst MTEF cycle increments are
  only in line with CPI (Support of PCBE is
  positive and supportive)

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Website address

• Thank You!
• Umalusis website www.umalusi.org.za
• Email info_at_umalusi.org.za