Higher Certificate in Local Government Management

Purpose

The Higher Certificate in Local Government Management is an entry level higher education qualification. The main purpose of the Higher Certificate in Local Government Management is to provide learners with a broad background knowledge to be able to, not only secure appropriate employment opportunities in the field of local government management and the local government sector but also, be able to engage in self-employment opportunities as consultants and local government advisors. The qualification intends to inter alia:

• Contribute to the stated intention of National government of build capacity in municipalities and develop human resource potential in local government management for social and economic development.
• Develop communication and analytical skills of learners.
• Promote equity by providing affordable access to public management education to learners previously denied such opportunities.
• Recognise and cater for the career and economic needs of learners who are in employment.

The Higher Certificate in Local Government Management will enable learners to master the essential skills required to

• Identify and serve the political, social, economic, technological and financial needs of local government.
• Work effectively in groups, organisations and communities and contribute to the delivery of efficient and effective services to local communities.
• Communicate effectively especially in written presentations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between government, the public sector and communities and acknowledge that society is a set of related systems.
• Understand that problem solving does not exist in isolation and that responsibility and accountability forms part of problem solving.
• Incorporate general business principles to the local government sector in its cultural context and in real life work experiences.
• Demonstrate an understanding of economic realities of the country how they relate to the local community, local authorities and South Africa as a whole.
• Display an understanding of financial information to ensure the desired outcome.

The qualification's affordability and accessibility will enable learners to gain a solid grounding in local government management skills and practices. Most of the existing learners intake is spread across the nine provinces, where the learning qualification could serve fruitfully to integrate and regularise the local government management practices amongst municipalities in the region, and where the establishing of this new route from FET-level education to Postgraduate education could have a significant positive influence on the ability of people to become leaders in their fields and make positive contributions to the economies of their regions.

Rationale

In recent years the institution has found a growing demand from young school learners and employees in local government seeking admission to a qualification in local government management. In addition to providing new students who have completed the National Senior Certificate and have not qualified for admission to study for a degree at a tertiary institution, this new qualification will provide access to learners who wish to pursue a tertiary education.

This qualification has been designed to meet the workplace needs in particular in the fields of, but not limited to, Local Government Management, Local Government Human Resources Management, Local Government Finance, Disaster Management, Project Management, Ethics and Professionalism and Local Government Law and Community Policing. According to the Minister of Public Service and Administration, the need to have a skilled, professional, people-oriented, committed and patriotic public sector workforce with a sense of national duty is necessary. A total of 1.6 million people would need to be trained. (Mercury, 21.05.2013).

Building the capacity of public servants to provide constructive service delivery is one of the key tools for the successful implementation of government's strategic priorities and programme of action. According to the Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA), South Africa needs an efficient, capable and value-based public administration.

The main challenge for the PALAMA is to increase the volume of training available to public servants, in order to enhance government's capacity for service delivery. PALAMA has to train below the Senior Management Services (SMS) of just 10,000 people; some 250,000 middle and junior managers. The Higher Certificate in Local Government will therefore address challenges faced by PALAMA and also contribute to meeting one of the nine key challenges identified by the National Development Plan of uneven and poor public service delivery.

This qualification will address leadership challenges and the practical management competencies required for improved service delivery. The curriculum has been designed in such a way that candidates will not only have access to various employment opportunities in the public and local government sectors, but may also embark on self-employment as consultants and advisors.

The qualification is cost effective and accommodates employed learners who wish to study via the distance learning mode. PC Training and Business College also provides excellent support for learners to cope with and understand the demands of the qualification. Support includes assistance in areas of weakness, tutorials and additional learning materials.

A dimension added to the programme is Work Integrated Learning (WIL) which is in line with the HEQSF. This will empower candidates to function with a greater level of competence in the work environment.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Pre-RPL assessment will be used to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements and if necessary appropriate assessments will be conducted to determine competence at the level at which RPL is requested. This can be done by interview.

The admission criteria would require learners to provide a portfolio of evidence to show competencies at NQF Level 5. Their portfolios will be assessed in accordance with the Institution's RPL policy.

Also, this qualification may be achieved in part or in whole through the recognition of prior learning. The Institutions RPL Policy will be applied.

The assumed learning can be acquired in the traditional way of formal study as well as in the workplace. Acquiring the competencies in a workplace (via normal on-the-job training) has the potential of addressing the problems of the past, where formal qualifications were only obtainable by way of formal study.

Any learner wishing to be assessed may arrange to do so without having to attend higher education. For recognition of prior learning the learner will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence of relevant experience, in a prescribed format, to be assessed for formal recognition. The assessor and learner will decide jointly on the most appropriate assessment procedures, subject to the assessment rules of the relevant ETQA. Learning assumed to be in place must be assessed by the assessor and moderated prior to any assessment relating to this qualification.

Entry Requirements

Access is granted to learners in possession of

• National Senior Certificate granting access to higher certificate studies.
• Senior Certificate granting access to higher certificate studies.
• National Certificate Vocational NC(V) at NQF Level 4.

The qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 5 worth 15 Credits each totalling 120 Credits.

Modules

• Local Government Management.
• Local Government Human Resource Management.
• Law and Community Policing.
• Local Government Finance.
• Project Management.
• Work Integrated Learning.
• Ethics and Professionalism.
• Disaster Management.

1. Apply local government management principles in the municipal sector.
2. Display knowledge of local government management, ethics and public law.
3. Evaluate the provisions of relevant local government legislation.
4. Apply local government financial management techniques.
5. Communicate management information to managerial and legislative levels to ensure accountability.
6. Utilise technology to increase workplace efficiency.

Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 1

• An understanding of fundamentals of local government and management is demonstrated.
• Concepts, terms, rules, principles of local government management are explained.
• An understanding of local government and municipalities as systems within a wider context of society and the business world is demonstrated.
• Knowledge of the different functions of local government management is applied.
• Different functional departments of a municipality are identified and described.
• The local government environment and how it influences community life and service delivery is explored and analysed.

Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 2

• Societal norms, values, and varied cultures that shape domestic and global worlds are appreciated.
• Equity in terms of basic human rights and democratic principles is practiced both within organisational as well as external contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 3

• Relevant policy legislation to the role and functions of local government with relation to service delivery are applied.
• Relationship of local government within the three level system of government is described.
• Legislative controls that regulate local government finance are described.

Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 4

• Financial resources are managed to minimise risk and ensure accountability.
• Budget information is compiled and analysed to ensure optimal utilisation of financial resources.
• Recommendations for local government practises within integrated development strategy are made.

Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 5

• Basic communication tools in a local government environment are applied.
• Information is communicated coherently using basic conventions of an academic professional discourse reliably in writing and verbally.

Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 6

• An understanding of the nature and tools of the modern dynamic municipality is demonstrated.
• Knowledge of administrative and management functions that impact on service delivery at local government level is used to enhance the delivery of service to the public.

Integrated Assessment

Development of the competencies may be through a combination of formal and informal learning, self-learning and work-based application. The practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies demonstrated for the group of assessment criteria in this qualification, must prove that the whole competence is more than the sum of the parts of the competencies.

The institution will conduct diagnostic and formative assessment. Formative and other practical assessments should also take place in the work place, where applicable. The learner should also be able to assess him or herself and determine readiness for a summative assessment against this qualification.

During integrated assessments the assessor will make use of formative and summative assessment methods and will assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies. Assessments will make use of combinations of the following assessment methods:

1. Time-constrained written examinations.
2. Course work Evaluations.
3. Continuous Evaluations.
4. Practical Evaluations.

Integrated assessment at this level of qualification provides an opportunity for learners to show that they are able to integrate concepts, ideas and actions across modules to achieve competence that is grounded and coherent in relation to the purpose of the qualification.