Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003 (Act No. 53 of 2003)

Industry Charters

Chartered Accountancy Charter

Section D : Challenges

17. Present and Future Activities

17.4 Challenges and Identified Strategies

17.4.1 Education

(c) Postgraduate and QE level

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Challenges

Strategy

Programmes

Measures

Poor throughput pass percentages at undergraduate and postgraduate levels amongst black students (mainly due to socio-economic problems)
Poor pass percentage achieved by black entrants in the QE
Perceived lack of transparency of the whole examination process (i.e. the setting, marking and adjudication of the QE)
A focus primarily on technical skills, which leaves students unprepared for the life skills in their professional lives
Many historically black institutions are still unable to achieve accrediation
CTA (postgraduate level study) standards vary considerably
A lack of funding leads to many black students studying on a part-time basis. This in turn means that they take longer to obtain a tertiary qualification
Lack of an effective learning model — many students work hard, but not effectively
Lack of mentoring and monitoring contribute to a high dropout level and poor throughput pass percentages
To widen the scope of tertiary education to include life skill training and socio-economic coping mechanisms
To attain uniformity of standards among all tertiary institutions
To improve the provision of bursaries for the development of black CAs
To provide more and better supervision with regard to bursaries
To provide support mechanisms for black students at tertiary level, financially and particularly socially
To ensure that (black) students are aware of all career and training opportunities at not just the bigger firms but also small and medium firms and all accredited training organisations
To ensure, by means of the current education programmes and working with tertiary institutions, that black pass percentages in the QE equate to or are better than their white counterparts
To introduce a formal education programme for repeat black QE candidates
To publicise and communicate the marking and adjudication process
To involve more black CAs in the setting, marking and adjudication process of the QE
CTA/QE project 2005/6
CTA/QE project 2004
Thuthuka Small Practices Project 2006 to 2009 (Approved in 2005)
University of Fort Hare Postgraduate Project 2006 (Approved in 2005)
University of Johannesburg Postgraduate Project 2006 (Approved in 2005)
Increased number of students entering tertiary institutions studying towards CA(SA)
Students numbers that are representative of the population demographics both with regard to gender and race
Pass percentages of all race and gender groups are equal