CIRCULAR: 0031/2001
EXPIRY DATE: NONE
TO: ALL CHIEF DIRECTORS, DIRECTORS, SECTION HEADS AND SECTIONS HEAD OFFICE, AREA AND CIRCUIT MANAGERS, SUBJECT ADVICERS PRICIPALS OF ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

SUBJECT: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

As part of the restructuring which the WCED has recently undergone, the Direct Human Resource Development has been established. The purpose of this letter is to communicate some basic information about the role of the Directorate: Human Resource Development.

1. Functions of the Directorate

   The principal functions of this Directorate are:
   
   • To co-ordinate and evaluate HRD activities within the WCED.
   • To interpret national and provincial policy with respect to
     • people development
     • organisational change
     • improved service delivery
     • transversal HR issues such as equity, employee assistance and skills development.
       
       

2. Responsibilities with respect to staff training and development

   While development opportunities are offered by a number of Directorates in the W will be the specific responsibility of the Directorate: HRD to
   
   • ensure their alignment with the WCED vision and mission.
   • eliminate duplication and inefficient deployment of resources.
   • ensure the quality of the programmes delivered.
   • keep a database on the INSET needs and participation of all WCED staff in in-service training and development.
     
     

   Within the new framework for Human Resource Management, the responsibility for making provision for staff development rests with the line manager - The HRD directorate will train a support line managers, including school principals, with respect to these new responsibilities.

3. Skills Development Act and Staff Development

   The Skills Development Act No. 97 of 1998 requires each employer to make provision for the training and development of all levels of staff. The WCED will soon be conducting a skills audit all its staff. Therefore it is important that all line managers should keep complete records of all the training and development needs of their staff as well as of training and development courses/ programmes they have attended. This information will be incorporated into the report submitted the Education, Training and Development Practices (ETDP) SETA under which provincial education departments fall. Information sessions concerning the Skills Development Act and the workings of the SETA will be conducted in due course, including information on our Workplace Skills Plan. The WCED has a Skills Development Facilitator whose main responsibility it will be produce the Workplace Skills Plan.

4. Training sessions: Coordinating

   All line managers and persons who plan training sessions of workshops for their personnel urgently requested to inform the Directorate: Human Resource Development ( HRD) concern these sessions or workshops. HRD must co-ordinate all training and development and m therefore be informed regarding the training and development of WCED personnel - for purposes of the skills audit as well.

   Any enquiries in this regard, should be directed to the Directorate: Human Resource Development.

HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2001-03-15