New regulations to help community colleges toe the line

Citizens will be better served once the new national policy on annual reporting for community colleges comes into being.

The newly structured community colleges serve primarily adults who have never had access to education and training and those who require skills upgrading.

The call for comments on the draft national policy on annual reporting for community colleges which was published earlier by the national Department of Higher Education and Training.

The document highlights the importance of accurate reporting to national government.

It states that community colleges must develop five-year strategic plans and annual performance plans that:

1. incorporate the mission, vision, goals and plans for funding
2. address past imbalances as well as gender and disability
3. include safety measures for a safe environment for the students, lecturers, and support
4. are approved by the Minister.

The college annual plan forms the basis for annual reporting and should report, in particular, on its performance and use of available resources.

The national policy also calls for the annual report and audited financial statements to include details of its overall management and governance, student performance on education and training programmes, an audited statement of income and expenditure, and a balance sheet and cash flow statement indicating the college’s financial health.

The department says that the annual report and audited statements are important instruments for monitoring and evaluating the community college system.