The promotion of economic growth will dominate discussions at the National School of Government’s (NSG) 3rd annual Economic Governance School to be attended by Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians from both South Africa and Kenya will kick-off on Sunday, May 21, 2023.

Delivering her Budget Vote Speech at the Good Hope Chamber, Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, Public Service and Administration Minister, Ms Noxolo Kiviet said participants at the Economic Governance School will reflect on measures to improve the performance of the state and promote economic growth.

“During the week of the 21st to the 27th May 2023, the NSG will be hosting the third annual Economic Governance School, which will be attended Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of the Executive Councils, Director Generals, Executive and Parliamentarians from South Africa and the Republic of Kenya.

“Capable, and astute political leadership is critical to the effectiveness in the performance of governments.

“This programme is part of several learning engagements that the NSG is implementing in partnership with higher education institutions locally and internationally, targeting elected officials and public sector employees,” she said.

Minister Kiviet announced that for the 2023/24 financial year, the NSG has been allocated a budget of R229, 018 million of which R115, 680 million is transferred to the Training Trading Account. The NSG raises almost half of its own operating costs and is targeting to raise its own revenue to the amount of R101,3 million from course fees.

“This means the NSG has over the past 10 years of its establishment, and development, raised over a billion Rands to fund training and development. While this must be commended, there is a need to reflect on the funding model in the context of its mandate, and the critical role it plays in the professionalisation of the public service,” she said.

The NSG will be implementing the following key priorities in this financial year:

  • targeted education, training, and development of 46 480 learners.
  • rollout of compulsory programmes; and
  • focus on niche programme offerings (Economic Governance School, Executive Education, SOE Board Induction, Traditional Leaders).

The NSG has made some notable achievements since its establishment in 2013, and these include the following:

  • Training more than 526 000 learners through all forms of training interventions and delivery modes (such as eLearning).
  • Generating revenue from course fees in excess of R1 billion.
  • Receiving unqualified and clean audit outcomes on both the Vote and the Training Trading Account – which points to efficient corporate governance and compliance.
  • Designing and delivering courses such as Nyukela, Compulsory Induction Programme, Project Khaedu, Ethics in the Public Service, Economic Governance School, and other executive education courses.
  • Over the last three years alone, there has been eLearning enrolments of more than 194 000 learners.

Minister Kiviet further said the sustained performance and institutional stability have contributed to the positioning of the NSG as a lead institution in public sector capacity building, domestically and internationally.

In this regard, she said they will table a position paper to Cabinet within the coming months which will relook at:

  • Teaching and learning philosophy underpinning the courses, programmes, and qualifications of the National School of Government.
  • Positioning the National School of Government for strategic international partnerships and collaboration.
  • Leading in the professionalisation of the public sector.
  • Digital learning opportunities for public servants.
  • Reviewing the funding model for the National School of Government.