Verification of Qualifications of Public Verification of Qualifications of Public

Service Employees by the South African Service Employees by the South African Qualifications AuthorityQualifications Authority

October 2009 October 2009

Daniel PienaarDaniel Pienaar

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Context Background to the Verification of Qualifications Objectives of Bulk Verification Individual and Bulk Verification Verification of Qualifications for Senior Level

Appointments SAQA Contacts Dpsa contacts

Presentation Outline

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In April 2009, the South African Qualifications Authority was tasked to be the sole verification institution that would be accepted for qualification verification in the public service, by the MPSA

Cabinet minutes of 15 April 2009 (item 3.8)

Context

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Verification of qualifications in the public service have been undertaken for a significant period of time

A number of problem areas identified in how verification was undertaken

Verification of qualifications in the Public Service is pursued in a fragmented manner

Departments manages service providers individually - the seemingly the only deliverable is a report – process is assumed to be watertight

Agency methodology models often unknown

Difficult to aggregate data

Background to Verification of Qualifications

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Services provided to Departments duplicated

Government could potentially be paying for multiple verifications of the qualifications for a single employee

This approach not beneficial to the Public Service over the long term

Leads to waste of resources and duplication of costs

Lack of a central repository and coordination point where Departments can access the results of qualifications already verified at no cost

Absence of a method whereby such results can be shared within government for improved decision making

Background to Verification of

Qualifications

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Circular issued in May 2009

Requests that qualifications be verified by a statutory body: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)

The Circular requests Departments to utilise SAQA for bulk and individual verification

Assist in increased reliability and ongoing maintenance of PERSAL data

Establish comprehensive database of qualifications of Public Service employees, accessible to all Departments

Objectives of bulk verification

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Complements security checks to be undertaken i.t.o the National Vetting Strategy in the Public Service (Criminal records, citizenship, financial/asset, qualifications, previous employment

Circular on Bulk verification elaborates on verification of qualifications, does not replace Circular on the National Vetting Strategy

Verification of qualifications and security vetting they are separate but aligned processes

Objectives of bulk verification

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Bulk verification should be undertaken by 1 November 2009 (letters to HoD’s, Sept 09)- for existing employees

Departments that have undertaken bulk verification need not repeat it as long as the data has been maintained (will be requested to provide data to the dpsa at a later date)

For individual verification existing agreements with service providers should be honoured, however as this is client (dept. needs driven) it is logical that this will cease immediately

Upon expiry, SAQA should be used to verify qualifications of new or potential employees

SAQA now verifies all qualifications

Individual and bulk verification

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New arrangement for the National sphere The MPSA has the responsibility to submit motivations

by departments, for the filling of HOD and DDG posts to Cabinet

To facilitate this process national Executive Authorities must provide the MPSA with a Cabinet memorandum containing all relevant information, including verification of academic qualifications, two weeks prior to Cabinet meeting

After publication of the Circular, need for rapid verification of qualifications for senior level appointments

Instances where the appointment needs Cabinet approval

Verification of qualifications of senior level appointments

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New arrangements contained in letter to HoD’s, Sept 09

Separate channel in SAQA arranged for verification of: Deputy Directors General Heads of Government Components Chief Executive Officers of Public Entities Directors General

Same day verification, exceptional circumstances 72 hours

Departments should undertake verification at least one month in advance of the scheduled interview date

Outcome: Provision of a Verification Report

Verification of qualifications of senior level appointments

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SAQA will verify foreign qualifications

Outcome: Evaluation Certificate

Turnaround time connected to costing structure

Time of Departmental submissions for foreign qualifications to SAQA to be aligned with costing

Time of Departmental submissions for foreign qualifications to SAQA to be aligned with costing

MPSA only processes appointments if the qualifications are verified, and evaluation of foreign qualifications performed, by SAQA

Verification of qualifications of senior level appointments

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Verification and evaluation checks of qualifications by other institutions not accepted

Provincial Governments adhere to internal policies and practices regarding DDG appointments and upwards

Can contact SAQA to follow a similar process

Verification of qualifications of senior level appointments

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Departments to contact SAQA directly Bulk & individual verification: Cleo Radebe / Yvonne Shapiro

Verifications@saqa.org.za Tel: (012) 431 5155 Fax: (012) 431 5051

Verification of senior level appointments Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SAQA Joe Samuels VerifyPublicService@saqa.co.za Tel (012) 431 5027 Fax (012) 431 5039

SAQA Contacts

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Policy for verification of senior level appointments Ministry for Public Service and Administration Dumisani Nkwamba (012) 336 1704 (021) 467 5120 082 885 9448 Dumisani.Nkwamba@dpsa.gov.za

Circular on bulk verification Daniel Pienaar Tel: (012) 336 1168 Fax: 086 691 1629 danielp@dpsa.gov.za hrp@dpsa.gov.za

Dpsa contacts

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End of Presentation

Thank You