Press Statement dated 23 August 2018
The Public Servants Association (PSA) supports the call by the Minister of Higher Education, Naledi Pandor, to re-evaluate the challenges at all Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to find solutions rather than rushing to cut the number of institutions.
“The PSA believes that the SETAs are not performing mostly because of governance issues rather than demarcation. The problems identified by the Minister need to be addressed as merging the institutions will simply result in bigger inefficient SETAs. Another issue of concern for the PSA is the temporary lifespan of SETAs. Some of these bodies are not established as permanent but as interim structures, which leads to a lack of continuity and a proneness to corruption,” said PSA General Manager, Ivan Fredericks.
Some of the current SETAs that the PSA operates in are efficient, with good corporate governance and clean audits such as the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority and the Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority.
“The country is burdened by a youth unemployment rate if some 31% unemployed youth. These institutions are meant to address such issues and provide critical skills necessary to increase a workforce that could uplift the country’s struggling economy. The Department of Higher Education needs to urgently look at alternatives to deal with these issues without compromising the needs of the country,” said Mr Fredericks.
Issued by Ivan Fredericks, General Manager, Public Servants Association (PSA)