| 1) | The Minister shall determine national education policy in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and this Act. |
| 2) | In determining national policy for education and training at colleges, the Minister shall take into account the competence of the provincial legislatures in terms of section 146 of the Constitution, and the relevant provisions of any provincial law relating to education. |
| 3) | Subject to the Constitution, national policy shall prevail over the whole or a part of any provincial policy on further education and training if there is a conflict between the national and provincial policies. |
| 4) | Subject to the provisions of subsections (1) to (3), the Minister shall determine national policy for the planning, provision, financing, coordination, management, governance, programmes, monitoring, evaluation and well-being of the further education and training system and, without derogating from the generality of this section, may determine national policy for- |
| a) | further education and training management information systems, including the provision of data in accordance with the international obligations of the government; |
| b) | the organisation, management and governance of the national further education and training system; |
| c) | facilities, finance and development plans for further education and training, including advice to the Financial and Fiscal Commission; |
| d) | innovation, research and development in further education and training; |
| e) | the organisation, management, governance, funding, establishment and registration of colleges; |
| f) | curriculum frameworks, core syllabuses and further education and training programmes, learning standards, examinations and the certification of qualifications, subject to the provisions of any law establishing a national qualifications framework or a certifying or accrediting body; |
| g) | co-operation between the Department and- |
| i) | other state departments; |
| ii) | provincial education departments; |
| iii) | local government; and |
| iv) | non-government organisations. |
with a view to advancing the national education policy contemplated in this section and the Reconstruction and Development Programme;
| h) | international relations in the field of further education and training; |
| i) | executive functions required to implement national education policy determined in terms of this Chapter, including the implementation of measures to address past discriminatory practices. |
