Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Intermediate-level ICT skills and development in South Africa: Private provision form suited to national purpose!

  • Published:
Education and Information Technologies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

ICT skills are critical to the success of enhancing national development in a globalised era (see World Bank 2006). Rudimentary intermediate-level ICT skills necessary to function optimally in basic computer-related environments are crucial to national competitiveness in a developing context. The supply of these skills provided predominantly by private, non-state institutions in most developing contexts is considerably under-researched (see Atchoarena and Esquieu 2002). This paper provides a rationale for the suitability of private sector intermediate-level ICT provisioning, exploring peculiarities of provisioning in the South African context. The features associated with the varied provider types and the response to the multiplicity of learner and client groups serve as crucial features of suitability. It posits the view that the capacity of the sector to respond effectively to skill needs provides the basis for national development in the South African context. The culpability of the sector in responding effectively to rapid technological developments provides the basis for its suitability to private provision forms. Lessons from this work and its impacts on national regulation of private ICT provision will provide important insights for other developing contexts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Gauteng is South Africa’s economic heartland with a contribution of 34.4% to national GDP in 2005. KwaZulu-Natal is the second-highest contributor with 16.4%, followed by the Western Cape with 14,7%. The combined contribution of the three urban provinces is therefore 65.5%, Jac Laubscher, Group Economist: Sanlam Limited. Retrieved (http://www.sanlam.co.za/eng/economicinsight/economiccommentary/economic+commentary+6+december+2006.htm)

  2. With for instance, see IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing); IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineering) and ACM (Association for Computing Machinery).

  3. SETAs have been established to respond to labour market imperatives in the sector. 23 SETAs exist in various economic sectors in 2008. The interests of the ICT sector is accommodated by the ISETT SETA.

  4. NATED refers to programmes officially recognised and assessed by the National Department of Education. These programmes existed prior to the introduction of the new curriculum implemented at the start of the 2007 academic year.

  5. These include Art and Music Business Studies, Educare/Social Services, Engineering, General Education and Utility Industries (Powell and Hall 2004:42).

  6. Technical qualifications were designed in terms of N levels. N1 to N3 referred to intermediate-level skills, while N4 to N6 refer to higher education.

References

  • Akoojee, S. (2005). Private further education and training: The changing landscape. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akoojee, S. (2007). Private technical and vocational education and training and national development: The South African reality. Unpublished Phd. thesis. Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand.

  • Akoojee, S. (2008). Private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and national development in South Africa. International Journal of Educational Development (forthcoming).

  • Akoojee, S., & McGrath, S. (2006). Public and private further education and training in South Africa: A comparative analysis of the quantitative evidence. South African Journal of Education, 27(2), 209–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akoojee, S., Arends, F., & Roodt, J. (2007). ICT skills at the intermediate level in South Africa: Insight into private provision and labour market demand. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apple, M. W. (2000). Between neoliberalism and neoconservatism: Education and conservatism. In N. C. Burbules & C. A. Torres (Eds.), Globalization and education: Critical perspectives. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apple, M. W. (2001). Comparing neo-liberal projects and inequality in education. Comparative Education, 37(4), 409–423. doi:10.1080/03050060120091229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atchoarena, D., & Esquieu, P. (2002). Private technical and vocational education in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Provision, patterns and policy issues (Revised Final Report). Paris: International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) for the World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennell, P. (2000). The impact of economic liberalism on private sector training provision in Zimbabwe. Assessment in Education, 7(3), 439–454. doi:10.1080/09695940050201398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhorat, H., & Kanbur, R. (2006). Introduction: Poverty and well being in post-apartheid South Africa. In H. Bhorat & R. Kanbur (Eds.), Poverty and policy in post-apartheid South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, P., Green, A., & Lauder, H. (2001). High skills. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckland, P., Jaff, R., & Reid, K. (1996). NTB Study 1 ©: Expenditure on training in the private college sector for the NEDLAC counterpart group on the financing of training. Johannesburg: NBI (National Business initiative). unpublished report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buhlungu, S., & Webster, E. (2006). Work restructuring and the future of labour in South Africa. In S. Buhlungu, J. Daniel, R. Southall & J. Lutchman (Eds.), State of the nation: South Africa 2005–2006. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Business Monitor International (BMI) - Techknowledge Group News. (2004). BMI-T uncovers IT vertical opportunities. [Web:] Retrieved from <http://www.bmi-t.co.za/a_sndmsg/news_view.asp?PG=38&I=56285&M=0> downloaded on 2/09/2004.

  • Castells, M. (2001). The new global economy. In J. Muller, N. Cloete & S. Badat (Eds.), Challenges of globalisation: South African debates with Manuel Castells. Cape Town: Maskew Miller Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2000). Research methods in education (5th ed.). London and New York: Routledge Falmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • DoE (Department of Education). (2005). Public Further Education and Training (FET) college examinations data: 2005, Pretoria.

  • Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532–550. doi:10.2307/258557.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Everatt, D. (2003). The politics of poverty. Retrieved from: < http://www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0000613/P636_Politics-Poverty.pdf > downloaded on 11/02/2004.

  • Healing, J. (2004). Lower telecoms costs will boost outsourcing to SA. Sunday Times Business Times: September 19, Business Times section.

  • ICT Empowerment Charter Working Group. (2004). The ICT Charter. Fourth Working Draft. Retrieved from <http://www.ictcharter.org.za> downloaded on 23/08/2004.

  • ITWEB. (2004). IT WEB. Retrieved from <http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/interviews > downloaded on 08/09/2004.

  • Johanson, R., & Adams, A. (2004). Skills development in sub-Saharan Africa. Washington: World Bank.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kraak, A. (2004). An overview of South African human resource development. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruss, G. (2003). More, better, different? Understanding private higher education in South Africa. In G. Kruss & A. Kraak (Eds.), A contested good? Understanding private higher education in South Africa. New York: Palgrave.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Roux, M. (2007). State bid to attract call centres to SA fall flat. Business Day, May 29, News section, Daily edition.

  • Lorentzen, J. (2005). Keeping industry on a roll. In Mail and Guardian, August 26.

  • Lorentzen, J. (2006). Multinationals on the periphery: DaimlerChrysler South Africa, human capital upgrading and regional economic development. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marginson, S. (2007). The public/private divide in higher education: A global revision. Higher Education, 53, 307–333. doi:10.1007/s10734-005-8230-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mbeki, T. (2003). Address of the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, on the occasion of the budget vote of the Presidency: National Assembly, Cape Town, 18 June 2003 Retrieved from Sabinet Online Legilink Division www.legilink.co.za on 15/07/2004.

  • McCord, A., & Bhorat, H. (2003). Employment and labour market trends. In Human resources development: Education, employment and skills in South Africa (pp. 112–141.). Cape Town and East Lansing: HSRC and Michigan State University Press.

  • McGrath, S. (2008). FET needs research. In Mail and Guardian, 13–19th June 2008, Feature on Higher Learning p. 6.

  • McGrath, S., & Akoojee, S. (2008 forthcoming Special Issue). Vocational education and training for sustainability in South Africa: the role of public and private provision, International Journal of Education (IJED).

  • Mohale, J. (2006). JIPSA on the fast track. Vuk’uzenzele Vol. 1. No.1 (May 2006). Retrieved from http://www.info.gov.za/vukuzenzele/Pages/jipsa(1).htm Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

  • Moleke, P. (2006). Finding work: Employment experiences of South African graduates. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moleke, P., Paterson, A., & Roodt, J. (2003). ICT and associated professionals. In HSRC Human resources development review: Education, employment and skills in South Africa. Cape Town and East Lansing: HSRC Press and Michigan State University Press.

  • Mpahlwa, M. (2006). Briefing by the Minister of Trade and Industry following the January 2006 Lekgotla of the ‘Economic, Investment and Employment Cluster’s Report of Macro-economy and Infrastructure Development’, Monday, 6 February 2006, Cape Town, Retrieved from <http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=1878 > on 25/03/ 2006.

  • Mudariki, T., Malikongwa, D. M., Kgosi, M., & Weeks, S. G. (1997). Survey of private vocational training institutions on Botswana. Gaborone: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, A., McGrath, S., & Badroodien, A. (2005). The national skills survey 2003. Unpublished client report for the Department of Labour. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, L., & Hall, G. (2004). Quantitative overview of the further education and training college sector: A sector in transition: April 2004. Pretoria: Department of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, V. (2006). Mathematics and Science achievement at South African schools in TIMSS 2003. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Republic of South Africa (RSA). (1997). Education White Paper 3: A programme for the transformation of higher education, Government Gazette, Vol. 386, No. 18207, Notice 1196 of July 1997. Pretoria: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • RSA. (2004). Trends in Intergovernmental Finances: 2000/01–2006/07. Pretoria: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritzer, G. (1993). The MacDonaldisation of the society. London: Pine Forge.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority). (2006). SAQA qualifications used in learnerships by SAQA numbers. Pretoria: SAQA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tooley, J., & Dixon, P. (2007). Private schooling for low-income families: A census and comparative survey in East Delhi, India. International Journal of Educational Development, 27(2), 205–219. doi:10.1016/j.ijedudev.2006.08.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trainingweb. (2004). [Web:] Training Web, Retrieved from <http://www.trainingweb.co.za> downloaded on 05/08/2004.

  • Woolard, I., & Woolard, C. (2006). Earnings inequality in South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2006). Information and communications for development. Washington: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA), Postal: 3rd Floor Block B, Metropolitan Park, 8 Hilllside Road, Parktown, 2001, South Africa

    Salim Akoojee

  2. Education, Science and Skills Development (ESSD), Human Sciences Research Council, Private Bag X41, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Fabian Arends

Authors
  1. Salim Akoojee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fabian Arends
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salim Akoojee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Akoojee, S., Arends, F. Intermediate-level ICT skills and development in South Africa: Private provision form suited to national purpose!. Educ Inf Technol 14, 189–204 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-009-9089-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-009-9089-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation