The Department of Higher Education and Training predicts its own collapse
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has, in its Annual Report, made the startling prediction that, unless something drastic is done to improve its own staffing situation, and particularly “if it continues to expand without due consideration for the need to recruit skilled staff, it could lead to a total collapse of the administration system of the Department”.
Needless to say, the Medium Term Economic Framework (MTEF) contains no indication that further funding will be made available to the Department to enable it to avoid this disastrous situation.
This is a very serious matter. The lives and futures of nearly two million young people, as well as the economy and society into which these young people are going to ultimately work, depend upon the efficient and effective running of this Department.
Of particular concern are the one million students in TVET colleges – for, while universities run themselves with broad departmental oversight, the TVETs are run by the Department in a much more hands-on manner. The Department accredits all TVET courses, it employs the staff at the colleges and it presides over the teaching and examining of all programmes offered.