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Memorandum from the Parliamentary Office
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 143
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 03/05/2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 11 OF 2013)
Ms B V Mncube (ANC-Gauteng) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and
Training: [Rule 246(2)]
Whether his department is succeeding in its commitment to (a) increase the
number of graduates in (i) Engineering, (ii) Natural Sciences, (iii) Human
and Animal Health Sciences and (iv) Teacher Education and (b) accelerate
black and women graduate output in such areas; if not, (aa) why not and
(bb) what are his departmentâs plans in this regard; if so, what are the
relevant details?
CW217E
REPLY:
a) The number of graduates has been increasing year on year.
i) Engineering Sciences
Engineering Science graduates has increased from 8Â 424 in 2009 to
9Â 387 in 2011 which was below the 2011 projected target of 10 093 in
the Ministerial Statement on Student Enrolment Planning for 2011/12-
2013/14.
ii) Natural and Physical Sciences
Natural and Physical Science graduates has increased from 3Â 468 in
2009 to 5Â 526 in 2011 which was above the 2011 projected target of
4Â 683 in the Ministerial Statement on Student Enrolment Planning for
2011/12-2013/14.
iii) Human and Animal Health Sciences
Human and Animal Health Science graduates has increased from 7 341 in
2009 to 8Â 070 in 2011 which was below the 2011 projected target of 8
991 in the Ministerial Statement on Student Enrolment Planning for
2011/12-2013/14.
iv) Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates has increased from 6Â 315 in 2009 to 10 361
in 2011 which was above the 2011 projected target of 9 942 in the
Ministerial Statement on Student Enrolment Planning for 2011/12-
2013/14.
b) Data for 2011 indicates that in all scarce skills fields, African and
Female graduates were more than 50% except in Engineering Sciences where
Female graduates were at 26%.
|Graduate |Teacher |Engineering|Human and Animal|Natural and |
|Students |Education |Sciences |Health Sciences |Physical Science |
|African |56% |62% |54% |61% |
|Female |72% |26% |72% |58% |
(aa) Institutions have indicated in submissions to the Department
that in order to increase Animal and Human Health Sciences, and
Engineering Sciences graduate output, the following interventions
would be required:
- additional support to students;
- infrastructure for current programmes needs to be strengthened;
- appointment of academic and support staff; and
- placement of students needs to be improved.
(bb) The Department has embarked on certain strategies to focus on
improving graduate output in these related scarce skills areas:
- A joint HESA/DHET workshop was held with various Deans of
Scarce Skills Faculties to finalise short to medium-term
interventions of individual institutions to accelerate graduate
output.
- A national strategy for engineering graduates will be developed
in collaboration with the Engineering Council of South Africa to
address key challenges in the engineering profession, develop a
framework to engage relevant stakeholders and determine
alternative interventions that may be feasible.
- Meetings have been held with Professional Bodies to address the
common threads in the training of professionals which require a
collaborative and more standardised approach for identifying
interventions and strategies. Meetings were held with the Health
Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), South African
Pharmacy Council (SAPC), South African Veterinary Council
(SAVC), South African Nursing Council (SANC), South African
Council for Educators (SACE), Actuarial Society of South Africa
(ASSA), South African Council for Social Service Professions
(SACSSP) and South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
(SAICA).
Although the Department has embarked on these strategies, it is
important to note that these strategies are focused on addressing
the throughput of students already in the system and it is envisaged
that the impact of these interventions will materialise and become
evident from 2015/16 onwards.
Compiler/contact persons: Dr E van Staden
Ext: 5889
DIRECTOR â GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
REPLY TO QUESTION 143 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr B NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE: