Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Education-NQF Bill South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)

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Presentation to Portfolio Committee on
Education-NQF BillSouth African Qualifications
Authority (SAQA)

• Prof Shirley Walters
• SAQA
• 30 July 2008

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Commendations

• Recognise and commend all involved in
• Ending the NQF review process
• Bringing proposed legislation to its current
  stage
• Unchanged NQF objectives
• Acknowledging the complexities involved in
  creating an integrated framework

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Concerns

• All the Quality Councils (QCs) will not be
  operational at the time of the proposed
  implementation.
• This may lead to uneven NQF implementation.
• Changes must be reflected in the suite of Bills
  for coherence and a consistent legislative
  framework.

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Specific Proposed Changes to NQF Bill

• Proposed changes based on 2 principles
• The NQF is a single integrated framework
• All new structures should have a meaningful role
  with clear responsibilities assigned

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DisputesClause 9 Responsibility of the Minister

• Proposal Addition of legal to clarify the type
  of dispute involving SAQA or a QC which needs to
  be resolved
• Reason Draw distinction between legal and other
  disputes because of SAQAs role as a mediating
  body in situations of conflict between QCs

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Co-ordinationClause 12Objects of SAQA

• Proposal Co-ordinate the sub-frameworks
• Reason SAQAs role of directly co-ordinating the
  sub-frameworks becomes clear

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Functions of SAQAClause 14NQF Implementation

• Proposal SAQA- Oversee the implementation of the
  NQF and ensure the achievement of its objectives
• Reason Highlighting SAQAs oversight role in
  implementing the NQF and advancing the objectives
  of the NQF

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Functions of SAQAClause 14Mediation

• Proposal Resolve emerging problems and mediate
  disputes regarding the QCs
• Reason It is SAQAs role as an oversight body to
  mediate in cases of conflict between QCs

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Functions of SAQAClause 14Level Descriptors

• Proposal Substitute reach agreement with
  after consultation
• Reason SAQA seeks agreement and consensus. The
  wording allows for progress once broad agreements
  have been reached

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Functions of SAQAClause 14With respect to
qualifications

• Proposal Include the term standards under
  definitions and in each case where reference is
  made to qualifications
• Reason Excluding the word standards is
  unhelpful when referring to both education and
  training constituencies

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Functions of SAQAClause 14Quality assurance

• Add With respect to quality assurance
• (i) SAQA will advise the Minister through the
  production of a periodic report on the NQF
  objectives and quality assurance in South Africa,
  after consultation with the QCs.
• (ii) SAQA and the QCs may collaborate on the
  production of other reports on specific topics
  for purposes of advising the Minister.
• Reason
• SAQAs quality assurance role was weakened from
  what was stated in the Joint Policy Statement and
  with each draft of the NQF Bill and eliminated
  altogether in the final draft. In order for SAQA
  to fulfil its oversight responsibility
  effectively, it needs to have a monitoring and
  research role regarding quality assurance.

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Functions of SAQAClause 14Policy and criteria

• Proposal Receive policy and criteria for
  sub-frameworks from QCs and advise the Minister
  in relation to the NQF. Receive policy and
  criteria for assessment, recognition of prior
  learning and credit accumulation and transfer for
  sub-frameworks from QCs and advise the Minister
  in relation to their alignment with the NQF
• Reason SAQA needs to ensure that policies and
  criteria for sub-frameworks are aligned to the
  broader principles of the NQF

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Functions of SAQAClause 14Navigational tools

• Proposal Develop and communicate a set of NQF
  navigational tools to enable learners to
  comprehend and make informed choices when
  traversing the sub-frameworks of the NQF
• Reason As an oversight body, SAQA should develop
  appropriate navigational tools for the benefit of
  learners

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Functions of QCsClause 28Alignment of functions

• Proposal Delete ensure that they remain current
  and appropriate
• Reason To align the section on QCs with the
  proposed changes in SAQAs function and to ensure
  that there is no duplication

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Functions of QCsClause 28Alignment of functions

• Proposal Submit policy and criteria for
  assessment, recognition of prior learning and
  credit accumulation and transfer for
  sub-frameworks to SAQA for comment on and advice
  to the Minister in relation to their alignment to
  the NQF
• Reason To align the section on QCs with the
  proposed changes in SAQAs function and to ensure
  that there is no duplication

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Functions of QCsClause 28NLRD

• Proposal Deletion of determined in consultation
  with SAQA and replaced with required by SAQA
• Reason The NLRD is a versatile and reputable
  database. The decision as to the format of data
  submission should reside with SAQA as the
  oversight body

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Functions of QCsClause 28Co-ordinated
Communication

• Proposal Inform the public about the
  sub-framework in line with a co-ordinated
  communication strategy by SAQA
• Reason This will clarify the roles and
  responsibilities between SAQA and the QCs

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Functions of QCsClause 36HEQSF/OQSF/GENFETQSF

• Proposal Add This sub-framework will in future
  be referred to as the Higher Education
  Qualifications Sub-framework (HEQSF),
  Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework (OQSF),
  General and Further Education and Training
  Qualifications Sub-framework (GENFETQSF).
• Reason To align the various pieces of
  legislation

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Way forward

• Changing landscape of education and training
• SAQA has vast intellectual capital in the NQF
  environment
• SAQA- participating actively in the development
  of 3 QCs
• SAQA embraces change and would like to
  collaborate on issues
• Value-Add is important in generating
  legislation that will benefit South Africans

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The end

• Questions?

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Presentation to Portfolio Committee on
Education-NQF BillSouth African Qualifications
Authority (SAQA)

• Prof Shirley Walters
• SAQA
• 30 July 2008