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National School of Government officially unveiled - Newsroom - 22-10-2013
The National School of Government, which will deliver a theoretical and practical approach to public administration management, was officially launched on Monday.
Speaking at the launch, Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said there were no short cuts to delivering operational excellence.
She added that high-quality education, training and development that provide values, skills and knowledge for entry, in service and career progression purposes is arguably the most realistic and viable option for public servants.
Government has been through a number of trials of various forms of institutions to provide training to the public service.
“We’ve come to the realisation that establishing functioning state machinery, the creation of a public service ethos and the creation of a cadre of government is a responsibility that cannot and should not be outsourced.
“What we have today, I am convinced, will stand the test of time, because we have learned from our past mistakes, learned from international best practice, seen ourselves through the mirror through the diagnosis produced by the National Planning Commission,†she said.
The National School of Government seeks to build and to locate the strategic and operational capabilities of public service education and training provision within the State.
According to Sisulu, the School of Government must respond to the “urgency of now†in righting the wrongs that have so far hobbled the public service.
“Put sharply, curricula and programmes will be designed on the basis of a sound understanding of the challenges and realities of the public service environment. It is about unleashing the best in our students to enable reform and performance oriented public service,†she said.
Hands-on, brains-on approach
The Minister further described this as a shift from the current model that focuses largely on building the generic knowledge and skills of individuals.
“The National School of Government and its hands-on and brains-on approach will enable us to apply common norms and standards in the public service.
“This should result in better horizontal and vertical articulation and greater mobility within the public service. In doing so, the School will help to address the unevenness and the poor quality that characterise most of the learning and development offerings in the public service,†she said.
The Minister further said the School of Government will usher in a new South African Government approach to education, training and professional development in the public service and public administration management.
The School of Government will be strengthened by a multidisciplinary team of lecturers, facilitators, trainers and organisational development experts.
“It is through this highly trained and experienced staff, comprising committed and competent retired public servants, current committed, ethical professionals in government and new recruits that understand and have knowledge - based on both the academic and world of work within the public service.
“Our new academic approach to professionalising and making the public service efficient and effective ought to set the new public administration management frontiers to the year 2030,†she said.
Governing of the School
The School will be governed by a Council that is reporting and accountable to the Minister of Public Service and Administration.
This Council functions will be that of governance and determination of policy, norms and standards on education, training and professional development within the public service.
Sisulu said a Principal will be appointed for the School, who will be supported by a number of deputy Principals and a Registrar, to deliver on the overall functions and responsibilities of the National School of Government.
Task team helped set up School
The Minister set up a Task Team of eminent scholars, education practitioners and academics with experience in managing higher education entities, over a period of nine months to help her conceptualise and establish the School of Government.
The Task Team did extensive and comprehensive research, international benchmarking, and finally presented the outcome of their work to the HRD Council, chaired by the Deputy President and also to Cabinet last month. - SAnews.gov.za