Dorothy Balaba

THETA

Theta, the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority, is the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) established under the Skills Development Act (No 97 of 1998) [the Skills Act] for the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Economic Sector. A SETA's main function is to contribute to the raising of skills - to bring skills to the employed, or those wanting to be employed, in their sector. They have to do this by ensuring that people learn skills that are needed by employers and communities. There is no value in training people if they cannot use the skills they have learnt. Training and skills development is not just for young people starting their first jobs though it is important for them too! The skills of people already in jobs must also be enhanced. Training must be to agreed standards, within a national framework wherever possible. It is no good if someone is trained in one province if their qualifications are not recognised in another. It is not ideal for one employer to increase the skills of his or her staff if another employer does not recognise them. All training, wherever it is provided, should be subject to quality control and where appropriate be compared to the best international standards. To achieve these objectives a SETA must - Develop a sector skills plan - Implement the sector skills plan - Develop and administer learnerships - Support the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework - Undertake quality assurance - Disburse levies collected from employers in their sector - Report to the Minister and to the South African Qualifications Authority.