SAQA is the South African Qualifications Authority, responsible for promoting lifelong education and training based on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The NQF has 10 levels of structure, with SAQA overseeing the coordination of substructures and quality councils. National certificates and diplomas are awarded at levels five through eight, while bachelor’s degrees can be earned from level six.
SAQA is an acronym for South African Qualifications Authority. It comprises 12 members, appointed by the South African Department of Education and approved by the Minister of Labour. SAQA is recognized as a legal entity. This means that you have the rights and duties of a natural person, with the capacity to carry out legal acts. SAQA seeks to promote a high level of lifelong education and training in South Africa, based on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). SAQA was created with the Qualifications Authority of South Africa Act (SAQA Act), No 58 of 1995.
All SAQA objectives pertain to the NQF. This is a system approved by the Ministry of Education to classify, register and publish quality-assured qualifications for education and training in South Africa. The NQF is expected to formulate a single standard of learning achievement, improve and maintain the quality of national education and training, correct past discrimination in employment and education, and make it easier for people to achieve their goals in their chosen careers. The SAQA shall oversee the advancement of the aforementioned objectives of the NQF.
SAQA is also responsible for coordinating the substructures of the system, called General and Education and Training; University education; and Trades and Occupations. Assigned to these sections that make up the NQF are the quality councils (QCs) established by NQF Law No. 67 of 2008 to ensure the development and quality of substructures. Umalusi is the quality assurance for General and Further Education and Training in compliance with the Amendment Act to GENFETQA. The Higher Education Amendment Act established the Higher Education Council (CHE) as the QC for Higher Education. As for trades and occupations, the Skills Development Amendment Act provides the Business and Occupations Quality Council as its QC.
The NQF has 10 levels of structure, which are layers of learning outcomes labeled from 1 to 10 in ascending order. Each NQF structure level has a level descriptor to describe the level of achievement. As of March 2011, the NQF awards national certificates and diplomas at levels five through eight. The first requires a minimum credit amount of 120, while the second requires double the amount of credits at 240.
Bachelor’s degrees can be earned from level six, with a credit requirement of 360. A professional bachelor’s degree, however, requires 480 credits, at level seven. The Qualifications Framework for Higher Education, established under the CHE in 2007, allows masters and doctoral degrees at levels nine and 10 respectively.
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