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The Public Sector Trainers’ Forum (PSTF) 2014

Accreditation: Lessons learned and the implications for the road ahead for higher

productivity in the Public Sector

25 November 2014

Dr Shamrita BhikhaChief Director: Accreditation

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION?Theme of conference: “Building capacity for higher productivity in the Public Sector”Sub-theme:

Impact-directed HRDConference Objective:

Strategies & programmes for the achievement of higher productivity in the public sectorHRD related objective:

Contribute to the awareness and adoption of QUALITY STANDARDSACCREDITATION:• Lessons learned • Implications for the road ahead

INTRODUCTIONBongi’s story:• Bongi’s Certificate: Next slide

• Accreditation and certification/Professional fraud/malpractice?

• Fake credentials? • Bogus institution and certificate?• False hope?• Money making?• Vulnerability?ROLE OF ACCREDITATION?

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PUBLICCOLLEGEOFSOUTHAFRICACERTIFICATE

Thisistocertifythat

Hassuccessfullymettherequirementsforthe

INDECEMBER2012TheCertificatewasconferredataGraduationceremonyheldon15April2013

Registrar

BONGI MFENGU

CertificateinPublicAdministration

Head:EducationServices 15April2012

ACCREDITATION – BUIDING CAPACITY –IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY:

ACCREDITATION

BUILDING CAPACITY

IMPROVEDPRODUCTIVITY

BUILDING CAPACITYCAPACITY: competent, able/fit, qualified Building capacity: INTENT• 1994: Public Service Act: Training Institution • 1995:White Paper on Transforming the Public Service. Chapter 13: Human

Resource Development and Training: 13.1 Human Resource Development and Capacity Building

• September 1997: White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery – Build Capacity

• 2001: Public Service Regulations: Training and Education• 2001-2004: White Paper on Human Resource Management in the Public Service

– build capacity of public service• 2013: The National Development Plan, Vision 2030 highlights the need for

capable public service to consistently deliver high quality services to the citizens of South Africa.

• 2014-2019: Outcome 12 in the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MSTF) 2014-2019 underlines the importance of “An efficient, effective & development-oriented Public Service.

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HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY?Higher Productivity?• High- of great or specified upward extent, of exalted (raised, place high in rank,

power) quality• Productivity – capacity to produce, quality or state of being.(The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1964)Minister Collins Chabane:• The National School of Government “will be the central pillar in professionalising

the public service for higher productivity, be an engine of innovation in public service, and mobilise thought, best practice and optimal use of resources to ensure demonstrable return on investment:

(Minister Collins Chabane, MP. Minister for Public Service and Administration. NSG Annual Report 2013/14).Phase 5 (2014-2019) - Productivity and Efficiency Measurement through Evidence Based Policy, Planning and Practices-(Reflections on the South African Public Service Transformation journey since 1994 and road ahead. Panel Discussion Input by Mr Collins Chabane, MP, Minister for Public Services and Administration. 14 Nov 2014.)

ACCREDITATION SYSTEMTHEORY & PRACTICETHEORY?

• Meaning?

• Why?

• Principles?

• Legislation & policies?

PRACTICE?

How does it affect me as a training institution?

Process: Who? How, When?

ACCREDITATION?

MEANING

The certification, usually for a particular period of time, of a

person, body, or an institution as having the capacity to fulfill a

particular function in the quality assurance system set up by relevant legislation/policy. (regulated environment)

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ACCREDITATION?WHY?• ASSURES EET community: institution & programmes meet certain standards

of quality – CONFIDANT, INTEGRITY• Credible, recognised nationally/internationally• Enhances educational quality by improving effectiveness of ETD institutions

and ensuring that these institutions meet standards established by ETD community, and serves as a common denominator of shared values and practices among diverse ETD institutions.

• Provides an assessment of an institutions effectiveness in the fulfilment of its mission, its compliance with legal requirements, and its continuing efforts to enhance the quality of learning, programme and services.

• Based on reasoned judgement, the process stimulates evaluation and improvement, while providing a means of continuing accountability to its constituents and the public.

• Product is a public statement of an institution’s continuing capacity to provide effective programmes and services based on agreed-upon requirements –principles/values/ philosophy of accreditation.

ACCREDITATION?PRINCIPLES/VALUESv People centredv Consistent high qualityv Partnersv Simplev Improve

THEORYLOOKING BACK: Ø All sector- specific training, including training for the public sector, welfare and

sports, will take place within the national framework to ensure that skills acquired are nationally recognised, portable and contribute to career-pathing.

Ø The provision of education and training within development programmes should have recognition within the national education and training system.

(Ready to Govern: ANC policy guidelines for a democratic South Africa. 31 May 1992)

• “The anticipated outcome will be a new system of public service training and education that will be strategically linked to the NQF and SAQA …”

(White Paper on Public Service Training and Education, July 1995)(White Paper on the Transforming Public Service Delivery, 18 Sept 1997)

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LEARNING PROVISION CYCLE of NSG

Design

Development

ApprovalDelivery

Review and evaluation

Planning

LESSONS LEARNEDREGULATORY FRAMEWORKS:Legislation/Policies:1. SAQA Act 19952. ETQA Regulations, 19983. ETQA Policies, Procedures, Criteria & Guidelines4. NQF Act 2008. Quality Councils5. QCTO Policies6. CHE: Policies & Frameworks

LESSONS LEARNEDPARTNERS:

SAQANQF

DHETCHE

QCTO

UMALUSIDBE

PEOPLE:SERVICES

PROVIDERS:CAPACITATE/

TRAINPUBLIC

SERVANTS

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LESSONS LEARNED: NSG – ACCREDITED Institutional accreditation: • PSETA, February 2014• Full accreditation - 4 Feb 2014 to 31 March 2016Programme accreditation:• 60 % ETQA – short learning programmes• PSETA• ETDP• Services Seta• LG Seta• SABPPQCTO – CIP

LESSONS LEARNERD:QMS POLICIES: UNDERPIN ACCREDITATION

1.ETD QMS POLICIES2. Curriculum and Learning Programme Management Policy3. Assessment Management Policy4. Certification Management Policy5. Learner Management Policy6. ETD Staff Management Policy7. Finance, Administration and Physical Resource Management Policy

LESSONS LEARNEDInstitutional Accreditation: SAMDI – PALAMA – NSG• Lack of timely feedback• Promises not honoured• Different understandings of legislation and policies

Programme Accreditation: • PSETA, ETDP SETA, Services SETA, LG SETA, SABPP, QCTO• Standardisation: criteria and guidelines• Complex• Feedback/communication • Competence – understanding of legislation• Managing change/transitions• Managing relationships• Management Information System

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ROAD AHEAD TO IMPROVE ACCREDITATIONv Privilege implementation just as much as strategy, legislation, policiesv Improved and sustained communication amongst partner organisationsv Improved understanding of legislations and Policiesv Dedicated unit for Quality Management and Development/Total Quality

Management – Quality Assurance and Accreditation v More Capable staff to implement – training on NQFv Improved transition managementv Stronger and sustained support systemsv Stronger management of monitoring/control & reporting systemsv Improved Management Information Systemv Improved Accountability Managementv Strengthen enforcement of regulations – system to penalise institutionsv More transparency, accountability, ethicsv Facilitate more strongly public access to information on accreditationv Improved systems, processes & people v Create a Consortium for Accreditation

ROAD AHEAD TO IMPROVE ACCREDITATIONSIMPLIFY

SIMPLIFY

SIMPLIFY

INCREASE INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS

CONCLUSIONBILLBOARD:We offer three kinds of service:

ACCREDITEDCHEAPFASTYou can pick any twoACCREDITED service CHEAP will not be FAST.ACCREDITED service FAST will not be CHEAP.FAST service CHEAP will not be ACCREDITED.???

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CONCLUSION“ACCREDITATION (Quality) is never an accident; it is always

the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction

and skilful execution; it represents the wise choice of many

alternatives”. (Will A Foster)

Our Accreditation System – let us make it work for

Building Capacity for Higher Productivity in the Public SectorSUCHTHAT…

POOR Service Delivery- Unhappy People

IMPROVED Service Delivery: Happy People

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QUESTIONS & DISCUSSIONS