SACE & Umalusi Strategic Plans 2025-2030 and Annual Performance Plans 2025/26

Video SA Council of Educators     -    Strategic Plan           Umalusi    -    Strategic Plan The South African Council for Educators presented its Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and Annual Performance Plan 2025/26 to the Committee. The presentation covered various legislative and policy changes that impacted the education sector. The Council said it was committed to enhancing public confidence in the teaching profession. It acknowledged the need to address internal and external fraud, the high vacancy rate and lack of sustainable funding. The Council was working to professionalise early childhood development across the country. Their five programmes were outlined. These covered governance, monitoring and evaluation, and professional registration and certification. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework was outlined. The Council was mainly funded through self-generated revenue. Their projected average revenue over the medium term was R126 million. Revenue recovery methods had been implemented during the 2024/25 financial year. The Council had previously obtained approval to utilise a R17.1 million accumulated surplus to address a backlog in ethical misconduct cases. Umalusi presented its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan and Budget for 2025/26 to the Committee. Strategic priorities included reviewing quality assurance approaches, evaluating and appraising qualifications as well as providing input to the legislative framework. Umalusi would focus on managing organisational risk, intensifying advocacy work and retaining experienced, qualified employees. The budget for the 2025/26 financial year would be R218 million, an increase of five percent from the previous year. A government grant of R174 million accounted for 80 percent of the budget. Internal revenue was expected to amount to approximately R44 million in 2025/26.  The Committee asked various questions about the presentations given. Concern was raised that the presentations followed the VAT announcement the day before, which could have implications for the budgets. It was suggested that the SA Council for Educators present quarterly reports to the Committee along with the Department of Basic Education. Concern was raised that there were no concrete plans to address unemployment. The Council was asked what proper consequence management was being put in place. Concern was raised about the high number of ethical misconduct cases and the case backlog. What was the timeframe for handling these cases? It was important to ensure educators could not re-enter the education system following a confirmed incident of ethical misconduct. Umalusi was asked how it would address the issue of institutions failing to meet accreditation requirements. Concern was expressed about the high turnover rate of employees at Umalusi.