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NQF Structure

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The DHET is responsible for all post-school [new word replacing tertiary] education and training in South Africa.

They are caretakers inter alia of the NQF Act [SAQA and 3 QCs], The Skills Development Act [SETAs] , the Higher Education Act [Unis and PHEIs] and the GEN FET Act [Colleges].

In terms of the SA Constitution, The DHET [for colleges and higher education providers] and the DBE [for schools] are required to  REGISTER ALL PRVIDERS. Public schools, colleges and universities are all deemed registered.

In terms of the NQF Act of 2008:

  • SAQA is the custodian of the NQF
  • Umalusi is the Quality Council for all Schooling [accreditation of public and private providers and associated qualifications]
  • The QCTO is the Quality Council for all College ETD [accreditation of public and private providers and associated qualifications]
  • The CHE is responsible for all Higher Education [accreditation of public and private providers and associated qualifications]

There are three separate sub-frameworks of the NQF that have been gazetted that each of the above areas each of the three QCs are accountable for.

NOTE: we are still in the transitionary phase from the SAQA Act[1995] to the NQF Act[2008] – the NQF Act replaced the SAQA Act but it did provide for transition from the old Act to the new Act [without a time limit].

That causes a lot of confusion as SETA ETQAs are still functioning [under the policies, criteria and guideline emanating from the SAQA Act] as we wait for the QCTO to take on its full responsibility.

 

LEVELS OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
BANDSCHOOL GRADENQF LEVELQUALIFICATIONS
HIGHER8Doctors Degree
7Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Postgraduate Diploma
6General first Degree
Professional first degree postgraduate
Bachelor’s Degree
5First Diploma
Higher Certificate
Certificate
FURTHER124Diploma
113Certificate
102Certificate
GENERAL91Grade 9 Basic Adult Education Training Level 4
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
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