Change in the South African education and vocational training with reference to the college sector

Date
2003-03
Authors
Boonzaaier, Johannes Nicolaas
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Education and vocational training in South Africa are currently in the throes of various changes, especially with regard to the college sector. The process commenced after 1994's historic first democratic elections in South Africa. The rationale for these changes presently taking place regarding education and vocational training is the total transformation of this system inherited from the apartheid era. These changes will put South Africa in a position to prepare itself for the challenges of the twenty first century, especially in the context of globalisation. Subsequent to the apartheid era many more opportunities on international markets arose for the country than ever before. In this context of globalisation it is thus indispensable for the country to dispose of a well trained and skilled workforce. In this connection the need for training also becomes closely allied to the macro economic plan, GEAR, of the South African Government. For the purpose of this thesis the first and second phase of the changes in the education and vocational training system in South Africa were investigated. The first phase was the policy formulation that gave rise to the Act on Further Education and Training, Act 98 of 1998. This then provided the impetus behind the process of transformation in further education and training. The second phase is the implementation phase, currently being executed. In addition, the historical roots of the present changes in the relevant education sectors were discussed. Four strategic aims of the above changes in education and vocational training are highlighted: The South African Qualifications Authority is to take charge of quality control and standards in the new South African qualification system. The National Qualification Framework is to establish a structured qualification framework for the new Further Education and Training (FET) system. Learnerships, replacing apprenticeships, are being envisaged for the vocational and inservice training system. New ways of funding the FET system, with special reference to the sector education- and training authorities. Finally a description follows of the implementation of these on the national, provincial, and specifically the college level as FET institutional level. On the basis of research undertaken, various interim findings are elucidated concerning the implementation of the changes in the education and vocational training system.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Onderwys en beroepsopleiding in Suid-Afrika ondergaan tans verskeie veranderinge, veral ten opsigte van die kollegesektor. Die proses het in 1994 begin nadat die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in Suid-Afrika plaasgevind het. Die rasionaal vir hierdie veranderinge wat tans in die onderwys en beroepsopleiding plaasvind, is om die stelsel wat uit die Apartheidsera oorgeërf is, in sy geheel te transformeer. Sodoende kan Suid Afrika hom voorberei op die uitdagings van die een-en-twintigste eeu, veral in die konteks van globalisering. Na die einde van die Apartheidsera het veel meer internasionale markte as in die verlede vir Suid-Afrika oopgegaan. Dus is dit noodsaaklik dat die land in die konteks van globalisering oor' n behoorlik geskoolde werksmag behoort te beskik. In hierdie verband sluit die noodsaak vir opleiding ook verder aan by die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se makro-ekonomiese plan, GEAR. Vir die doeleindes van hierdie proefskrif is ondersoek ingestel na die eerste- en tweede fase van veranderings in die onderwys- en beroepsopleidingstelsel in Suid-Afrika. Die eerste fase was die beleidsformulering, wat gelei het tot die Wet op Verdere Onderwys en Opleiding, Wet 98 van 1998. Dit was dan ook die dryfkrag agter die proses van transformasie in verdere onderwys en beroepsopleiding. Die tweede fase is die implementeringsfase wat tans aan die gang is. Daarbenewens is 'n historiese perspektief en die wortels van die huidige veranderinge in onderwys en beroepsopleiding bespreek. Aandag word geskenk aan vier strategiese doelwitte om die bovermelde verandering in onderwys en beroepsopleiding te bewerkstellig. -Die SA Kwalifikasie-owerheid om gehaltebeheer en standaarde in die nuwe Suid- Afrikaanse kwalifikasiestelsel te bewerkstellig; -Die Nasionale Kwalifikasieraamwerk om 'n gestruktureerde kwalifikasieraamwerk in die nuwe Verdere Onderwys en Opleidingstelsel (VOO) daar te stel. -Leerlingskappe, in plaas van vakleerlingskappe, wat vir beroeps- en indiensopleiding beoog word. -Nuwe wyses om die VOO-stelsel te befonds, met spesifieke verwysing na die Sektorale Onderwys- en Opleidingsowerhede. Laastens volg 'n beskrywing van die implementering daarvan op nasionale-, provinsiale- en spesifiek op die kollegesektor as VOO instellingsvlak. Op grond van die navorsing wat onderneem is, word verskeie tussentydse bevindinge rakende die implementering van veranderinge in die onderwys- en beroepsopleidingstelsel onder die loep geneem.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
Keywords
Education, Higher -- South Africa, Educational change -- South Africa, Universities and colleges -- South Africa, Occupational training -- South Africa, Dissertations -- Information science, Theses -- Information science
Citation