The Office of the Presidency in partnership with social partners – the Department of Labour, NEDLAC, NSF and CCMA – have put in place a training layoff scheme in reaction to the current economic meltdown. The scheme (TLS) is one of the government interventions to mitigate the impact of the global financial crises in the Tourism, Hospitality, Conservation and Sport industries.

For more information on the THETA TLS processes, please click on the following:

1. Theta TLS Guide
2. Theta TLS Process Flow
3. Training Layoff terms and conditions

Official Notice of THETA’s Annual General Meeting is hereby given as follows,

Date: 22^nd October 2009

Time: 09h00 for 09h30

Venue: Glenhove Conference Centre

www.glenhove.co.za/contact_us.htm kindly visit this link to view the map

The draft agenda will be available on our website as of the 15^th October 2009: www.theta.org.za

Theta welcomes as many members as possible to our annual general meeting.

RSVP: Thando Hosha, no later than the 20^th October 2009 email: thando@theta.org.za / fax 086 505 3388 or tel: 011 217 0600

Click here to download the Agenda.

THETA hereby takes pleasure in informing our provider base of new qualifications registered within our quality assurance mandate.

New Qualifications
Where providers are interested in offering any of the new qualifications, the normal programme submission processes for evaluation and approval will be applicable.

Replacement Qualifications
In this event, providers with such a programme approved for their scope of provision has one year after this date to conclude learner registration and the N plus 2 principle also automatically becomes applicable. In this event an additional year for training out is applicable to a certificate level qualification whilst an additional two year period for training out applies to a diploma level qualification.

Click here for more information.

Within the statutory responsibility of Education and Training Quality Assurance bodies (ETQAs) to quality assure and support constituent providers in the delivery and assessment of qualifications and unit standards that fall within their primary focus, THETA has embarked on the development of learning programmes for language and numeracy fundamental unit standards in newly registered qualifications.

THETA will now make available these pre-developed learning materials for learning programmes aligned against qualifications on the NQF falling within the THETA quality assurance scope and mandate.

To have access to these learning programmes, selected providers may apply for access to these learning programmes through a pre-described process.

Who has access to pre-designed learning programmes?
Access and utilization of THETA developed learning programmes are available to:

Click here for more information
Click here to download the Application Form

Theta is in the process of updating OFOs in the Tourism, Hospitality, Conservation, Gambling and Sport sectors. This involves the collection and compilation of a consolidated list of occupations and their descriptors in these sectors. Some of you already know that in the past South Africa used a system known as Standard Occupational Codes (SOC) and this system has changed to Organising Framework for Occupations which better supports our skills development processes.

The OFO framework is set to become the national benchmark when reporting for equity purposes, scarce and critical skills and other similar reporting requirements. Currently, the OFO's are used when reporting for Workplace Skills Plans (WSP's) and Annual Training Reports (ATR's). Inconsistencies resulting from gaps on the OFO Framework, differing job titles and understanding of the content of jobs, job levels, academic requirements and experience required to obtain proficiency has led to poor and incorrect reporting in addition to frustration from those completing the reports.

Time lines for the project are extremely tight and in order to obtain the broadest possible consultation, Theta is hoping that you would be able to assist with the distribution of a template to facilitate the collection of information from your membership or organisation.

The Service Providers appointed by Theta to facilitate this process will be approaching your organisation with the relevant template. Completed templates should be returned to the same provider directly and employers are free to contact either Theta or the Service provider directly should they have any questions or queries.

Click here for more information

Whilst the ETQA Regulation R1127 is still in effect until such time the new legislation is enforced, THETA ETQA would like inform all accredited and registered/programme approval providers whose accreditation/registration status is about to expire to apply for re-accreditation.

Process of re-accreditation

1. Inform the quality assuror that is allocated to your institution of your intent for re-accreditation.
2. The provider will be required to fill in the self-evaluation form which must be submitted back to THETA.
3. Furthermore, the provider shall submit a report to THETA stating the reasons why such accreditation should be retained, and indicating the results achieved (i.e. number of learners enrolled per year and number of learner achievements per year) by it during the previous four years.
4. A verification site visit will be arranged with the provider. Based on the verification feedback, reaccreditation would be granted.

Click here for more information

The seminar aims to showcase a willingness and capacity of the employers to invest in the sector in preparation for the 2010 World Cup.

We look forward to seeing you at this event.

Please RSVP by 06 May 2009.

For more information, to book your place at the event, please contact Felicia Lepule at 011 217 0600 or email at felicia@theta.org.za.

This serves to notify all Tourism, Hospitality & Sports Education & Training Authority levy-paying companies that the Mandatory grant application forms are now available online. Registered Skills Development Facilitators are requested to log on and complete the online form. The deadline for submitting the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP for 2009/10) and Annual Training Report (ATR for 2008/09) is 30 June 2009 at 20h00.

Please note that no extension of the deadline will be granted.

Click here to access the step by step 2009 guideline document

Completed documents must be duly signed and delivered to THETA office situated on the 3rd Floor, Block E, Sandhurst Office Park, Cnr Katherine Street and Rivonia Road, Sandton, Johannesburg.

For more information or assistance, please contact the Skills Development Department: tel. (011) 217-0600 or fax: 086 505 3385 and request the following support staff:

Click here for more information

The Skills Development Act, 1998 (SDA) makes provision for the establishment of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) for each national economic sector as determined by the Minister in terms of section 9 of the SDA. THETA is a public body that performs a pivotal role within the skills development framework and it is therefore important that it gets endorsement for its re-establishment and its scope of operation for the period 2010 to 2015. Kindly assist us by participating in our stakeholder survey, which will take less than 5 minutes of your time. Your input will certainly assist us in repositioning THETA for excellence service delivery in the next 5-year cycle.

The survey is web-based, please access the questionnaire through the following link:

http://www.survey123.co.za/Managing-for-Excellence/THETA-STAKEHOLDER-SURVEY.php

The City Press published on Sunday January 18 a story stating that a Theta (Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority) project aimed at training graduates in the tourism sector has been suspended (Red Card for R200m project).

“It is therefore not true that we ran out of funds. We simply reviewed our targets because we could not use funds from a previous financial year going forward, which is normal practice in public sector,” says Mike Tsotetsi, CEO of Theta.

Click here to read the Press Release Statement.

THETA is currently re-scoping for qualifications already registered. The new THETA Qualifications Framework is expected to be registered by 31 March 2009.

Click here to download the document.

1. improving and facilitate public relations;
2. developing newsletters and brochures as required;
3. developing, designing and printing of the annual report;
4. expected to market and create awareness of Theta and its mandate nationally;
5. fulfill a media liaison role and liaise with Theta’s targeted audience;
6. prepare articles for publishing and airing and
7. prepare articles for publishing in the Theta “Training Matters” newsletter which is produced quarterly

1. Assisting the Theta with scoping research projects;
2. Carrying out research projects of the Theta;
3. Developing sector needs analysis reports based on empirical evidence and research; and
4. Developing and managing a proper knowledge database system.

• Extensive experience in developing and implementing management development programmes that provide key insights into the changes taking place in the world of business



• Must be able to contextualise the curriculum to include an understanding of the business environment, the company context, intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, as well as leadership and business acumen



• Provide learning material and centres with accessible reference and learning materials.

Click here to download the annual report.

Click here to Log an issue/enhancement.

Please be advised that Learner Registration and Achievement Registration Forms have been removed from the web site.

Only accredited providers with programme approval will be allowed access to the THETA database for capturing learner information and achievements.

Complete and e-mail the Database Registration Form to ETQA@theta.org.za. Please insert "Database Password" and your Organisation's name in the subject line.

Click here to download the Database Registration Form.

Click here to download the annual report (Adobe Acrobat - 906Kb).

An online facility has become available for Phase A applications.

To access the facility, first click on "Log on To Database". The Theta Database Login Page will appear; click on "Provider Accreditation" and proceed by following the instructions for each step.

Click here to access the Database Login Page.

Significant progress has been made in generating Qualification Frameworks, Qualifications and Unit Standards during 2005.

In support of the qualification generation process conducted by the 5 SGB's, THETA is presenting an opportunity for you to provide input on the work done to date. This input will form an important part of the consultative process that the NSB regulations require of SGB's who are proposing new or reviewed standards. Your input in this regard will be highly appreciated.

Click here to give input on any of the qualifications.
Click here to view frameworks and qualifications with the complete set of Unit Standards.
Click here to access Theta Online.

The THETA system is set up in such a way that the ETQA is only prompted to print certificates for completed Learnerships, Full Qualifications and Skills Programmes.

Where learners have completed a combination of unit standards, which do not represent a formally registered skills programme or qualification, the system will not automatically generate a Statement of Achievement for these programmes.

Providers are required to notify THETA of the specific learners for whom THETA must issue Statements of Achievements.

Click here to view the ETQA Notice.

University of South Africa is advertising a Certificate in Tourism Guiding. The advertising brochure that THETA has received contains factually incorrect information which has been addressed in an ETQA standard notice, available for download.

Click here to download the standard notice.

This interpretation is to provide clarity regarding the interpretation and application of the provisions of the Act that relate to the deduction of an allowance in respect of the entering into or completion of a registered learnership agreement.

Click here to download the SARS tax form for learnerships.
Click here to download the Learnership Allowance.