My colleagues, we are at yet another stage where we have to reflect on our journey over the last 12 months as a sector. Our sub sectors continue to experience different challenges
Nevertheless we have to work towards the growth of our sector. Over the last 12 months we have experienced some level of success, challenges as well as pending issues that we should continue to battle with.

 

The Revised National Policy of 1994 clearly advocates for an enabling environment that would ensure effective participation of the private sector in education. The private sector continues to engage government on issues it considers critical to the creation of this enabling environment.

 

 

1. Meaningful discussions with government (ministry of Education and skills developments) on the need to address some of the constraints/ challenges the private sector face continues. Key amongst these being the fact that government has to date advised the private sector to come up with a comprehensive proposal to government on how the government can create a conducive environment The report is intended to cover issues across all sectors of education.

This assignment commenced in October 2008 and it entailed consultation with different stakeholders. A final report is to be submitted to the Minister of Education prior to the March HLCC Sector meeting which is scheduled for 27th March 09.

Key amongst others is the need for provision of adequate land to address private sector development as well as zero rating of essential items. This important task must be completed for final discussion at a the scheduled BOCCIM pre meeting of the 13th March 09. After which it shall be submitted to the Minister of Education and Skills Developments (Private Sector Policy).

 

A task force that is representative of different levels has to date worked on a draft which is here attached.

 

2. Ability to bring on board a representative for the pre-school sub-sector who has been instrumental in articulating the needs for this sector.

 

3. BOCCIM presentation to government on the education hub concept. BOCCIM presented its view on the hub concept through a concept paper to government.

I am glad to report that while initially government was of the view that the hub should focus only on tertiary education sector, following our presentation and active debates government has since reconsidered its position and decided that the hub should cover across levels. The hub concept paper that was presented to government is available on request.

 

 

 

While the private sector welcomes sponsorship of students to private tertiary institutions, this does not cover BOTA accredited progammes (skills development). This creates a gap in the private sector participation. This important issue must also be articulated in the report to be presented to government.

 

 

NDP 10 advocates for the private sector as “ engine of growth”.
Due to the economic crisis, government has decided to suspend implementation of NDP 10 until a later date. This could have an effect on our sector.

This remains a challenge. At the last AGM we appointed sector representatives as a way of bringing efficiency by ensuring that specific sector issues are discussed at sub sector level. Implementation of this resolution remained a challenge mainly due to coordination.
I recommend that at the end of this meeting we set sub sector meeting dates so that the secretariat can effectively assist in coordination. I believe this will go a long way in improving the efficiency of our operations.

4. CONSOLIDATION OF MEMEBERSHIP

Our membership does not seem to be consolidated. This is evidenced by a lot of inconsistency in attending meetings. We need to consolidate our membership through consistence participation. Furthermore, I strongly recommend that we should continue to recruit members so as to strengthen our voice and at the same time we should ensure that we are paid up members, both as individual institution level as well as associations.

 

In the last sector HLCC forum, government clearly voiced its concern on the fact that members of our institutions employ more foreigners than locals. This has been a cry from government for a long time now. Government believes private education providers are not doing enough to curb the problem.

This concern was also echoed at the recent BOCCIM council meeting where the entire private sector is encouraged to expedite localization. While we continue to reason with government on this matter, I would like to urge all of us to be more deliberate on this issue. We must be seen to be responsible partners with government in dealing with this issue.

BOCCIM and government reached consensus that much focused discussion on this issue must be held. I would like to believe that this has started as Private Tertiary Institutions that are TEC registered were called for an urgent meeting addressed by the TEC chairperson to address the issue last Tuesday. This is also componded by the fact that there are some institutions that continue to ignore Labor laws of the country by employing foreigners without requisite legal documents. BOCCIM members ought to be above reproach as we are representing not only voice of the private sector but also its image.

I note that these institutions may not be BOCCIM members, but BOCCIM is held in high regard and a lot is expected from BOCCIM in terms of professional business ethics. I would like to believe each of us will deal with this concern at our institutions.

I am aware that there remain to be some challenges pertaining to work permits delays. This is one concern that we shall articulate in our presentation to government. Meanwhile we should do all we can to abide to the law.

There is also a belief that we do not offer competitive remuneration packages and as a result we experience high turnover which ultimately leads to continuous replacement and this is also undesirable.

The recent raids by police and immigration officials of some institutions were illegal employees were found. This should be a great concern to us. We may need to develop an urgent plan to curb this ill. Particularly given the fact that most of these are not BOCCIM members.

 

ONGOING ISSUES

 

 

This project is ongoing and lot deliberations have been done in attempt to reach a common understanding of the concept. This was a major challenge; To date stakeholders have more or less reached a common understanding on the concept. Several presentations have been made to stakeholders by the ministry.

 

The minister has since presented the document for cabinet approval and a reference team has been set up.

 

 

Cabinet approved the strategy a month ago but the ministry still has to launch the strategy. This will go a long way in addressing manpower requirement issues.

 

I note that there could be recent sector specific issues and colleagues who are actively involved in the different sub-sectors, shall highlight those challenges. Some of the issues that were ongoing during the last AGM report are still ongoing while some are more or less closed. The ongoing issues include the VAT as well as the land issue amongst others.
While the concluded issues include:

 

May I also make an observation that as a sector, we do not seem to appreciate the importance of this forum which comes every two years. This is a platform where Government Policy makers together with leaders of industry engage on national issues.

Important resolutions affecting all sectors are made to government. It is clear that our voice is weak at this forum. We need to engage government at this forum as well. While the HLCC provides a forum for our sector. This is done through representation. The NBC is as appointing for representatives not at sector level but even at institutional level. The benefits thus cannot be over emphasized.