Temporary v Conditional Registration as a Training Provider
Some SETAs often take very long to process provider accreditation applications. By the time the accreditation application is finalised the applicant has already lost interest or running broke because of rent and other costs.
Is it not possible to start operating as a training provider once an application has been submitted? An applicant may be given Temporary Registration upon submission of an application. Once the application has been considered a Conditional or Full registration may follow.
This will ensure that there are no unnecessary fly by nights and aspirant providers don't incur overheads without anything coming in. This is based on the assumption that nobody can submit an application without an intention to comply with the law. All those who submit applications are keen to be governed.
What are your views?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clement Makan on
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Very good point Luyanda.
In 2003, I tried to obtain accreditation from the Services Seta. After several trips to the Durban office and submitting the documents required, I heard nothing. And as you say, I gave up on the idea as I could not afford to pursue it. Since then, I've not been able to secure opportunities to share my knowledge and experiences on the open market because I lack accreditation. How does one equate some 35 years of work experience together with formal schooling with a piece of paper stamped by some bureaucrat? Last week I I sent an email to the EDTP seta requesting information on accreditation, because I don't want to go to my grave with this vast storehouse of experience. I am still waiting for a response. Recently, I came close to securing an opportunity to share my life with others. I could not because I am not "accredited".
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Permalink Reply by Luyanda Mtshotshisa on
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This is a very sad experience Clement. I think it is high time that we approach the Minister of Higher Education & Training and share our experiences with him and also come up with a proposal to remedy this situation.
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Permalink Reply by Walter Donaldson on -
A very interesting question, Luyanda! I'm not sure who would be in a position to answer this - Dr Ndimadze? I know of several people/companies who have applied for accreditation, waited and wasted a few years to get the final nod based on full qualifications or been disqualified - and then there are others who have got the ok after submitting one unit standard? In my opinion, the system is continually flawed and doesn't seem to get much better.
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Hi Walter, I think the best way to go is to meet Dr Blade Ndzimande and make him aware of this challenge.
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Permalink Reply by Nokuthula Msibi on -
I think if there is anything providers need to talk about is how government and setas could offer better and effecient services. I would definitely not agree that providers be allowed to start working before accreditation. There are many questions to think about here...What if the provider fails to submit all required evidence? How many years or what is the period people would be allowed to train before accreditation? What would be the monitoring mechanism and who would be responsible for the learners?
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Very good questions Ms Msibi. However, how do you explain a delay of 2 years before a provider is told that the application is unsuccesful. The rent, salaries, phone bills etc that one incurred whilst waiting. The big question is how do we make Setas adhere to their turn around time. Must we go the legal way and assume that a failure to make a decision is equal to a decline and therefore start appealing? Would you wait for 5 years before you get an answer? If not what would you do? Spend more and hire an Advocate to take the matter to court?
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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Moore (nee Elphick) on -
I have brought Luyanda's comment to the attention of my local Services Seta Officer: Training Provider Assistance. They are surely amongst the worst offenders? I am hopeful that she will be able to provide some insight or, at least, pass it on to someone at Services Seta who is willing to comment. It's a situation that continues to threaten our livelihoods and inhibits meaningful skills development in our country. It's good to see providers offering solutions. Thanks!
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Thanks Deirdre, that is highly appreciated. Lets hope for the best.
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Permalink Reply by Siphokazi Nyabashe on -
Some Setas do give you Provisional accreditation after you have met minimum requirements. The problem is the process again comes to a stand still since no learner achievements will be issued by Setas if full programme approval or accreditation is not granted.
Setas need to find a way to speed up their processes.
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Permalink Reply by Charles Dey on -
This goes back to the debate we had a while ago about accredited vs non accredited training. My feeling is that if an individual has something of value to offer the market by way of training s/he should be able to find customers for it. Anyone heard Quinton Coetzee speak? He has made an excellent living (both locally and internationally) from what is essentially the same piece of training because what he has to offer is perceived to be of great value. He is not an accredited provider.
On the other hand I do NOT believe that anybody should be allowed to award any form of certification against any form of training without that training having been independently verified.
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Noted Spokie. Remember that even provisional accreditation takes ages to be granted.
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ContributorPermalink Reply by Hannes Nel on -
I fully agree that the accreditation process takes way too long in most instances/with most quality assurance bodies. However, prospective private providers need to realise that not anybody can be accredited just because you apply and have so many years' experience. You need to have the capacity to offer good quality ETD, and this means that you need professionally designed and developed learning materials that are fully aligned with registered standards, suitably qualified staff, including facilitators, assessors, moderators, admin staff, management staff, etc. You also need to have suitable facilities to offer the training and, probably most importantly, be financially healthy enough to sustain the training that you offer to take at least one group of learners through the process, i.e. so that they can achieve a full qualfication. An applicant who does not have enough finances to get through the process of accreditation will most probably also not have sufficient funds to offer good quality education and training for a reasonable period of time. Dr Hannes Nel, MD Mentornet
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