SOUTH AFRICA: Bill approved for transfer of colleges

Parliament's justice committee last week approved the 18th amendment to the South African constitution, which aims to transfer responsibility for further education and training colleges from provinces to the Department of Higher Education and Training, write Wyndham Hartley and Karl Gernetzky for Business Day.

The change reflects President Jacob Zuma's decision in 2009 to split education between two departments.

It would allow the department to implement its plans to address the skills shortages facing the economy, said the department's Director-general, Gwebinkundla Qonde. The change would result in the consolidation, alignment and proper coordination of the roles of FET colleges, which were a "crucial" part of the department's plans to provide scarce skills for business, he said.
Full report on the Business Day site