An investigation of corporate governance practices at selected TVET colleges

Abstract

A number of studies have been conducted in South Africa in relation to the phenomena of corporate governance, in particular to large State entities and enterprise. The study explored practices of corporate governance in the public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges sector. The aim of the study was to understand the legislative and regulatory requirements applicable to TVET Colleges regarding corporate governance, understand the systems and structures of governance in the TVET Colleges. Investigate whether the systems of corporate governance at public TVET Colleges are aligned to legislative requirements and the King Codes as well as to investigate whether TVET Colleges are disclosing corporate governance processes in their annual reports. Employing a qualitative research approach, the researcher conducted interviews with Council Chairpersons and also collected semi-structured questionnaires with college principals from the sampled TVET Colleges. The study found that there was a general understanding of the roles of both council and principals in managing a public TVET college, colleges were not fully constituted with outstanding appointments in terms of section 10(6) of the CET Act, colleges have functional Council committees with a balanced composition and blend of internal versus external and that meet regularly and colleges are yet to implement King IV requirements relating to disclosure the application of the principles in terms of the “apply and explain”. Recommendations were made to the Department of Higher Education and Training as well as college Councils with regards the findings emanating from the study.