National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008 (Act No. 67 of 2008)

Notices

Policy for the Certification of Candidate Records on the General and further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework

Chapter 1 : Definitions, Objectives and Application

1. Definitions

Purchase

The purpose of these definitions is to define the terminology used in developing this policy.

In this Policy—

(a)

any word or expression to which meaning has been assigned in the National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008 (Act No. 67 of 2008) and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act 2001, (Act No. 58 of 2001) shall have the meaning so assigned to it, unless the context otherwise indicates; and

(b)	the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.

“assessment”

means the process of identifying, gathering and interpreting information about a learner’s achievement in order to—

(a) assist the learner’s development and improve the process of learning and teaching; and

(b) evaluate and certify competence in order to ensure qualification credibility.

“Assessment body”

means a juristic body accredited by the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi) to quality assure internal assessment and conduct external examinations and includes a department of education.

“candidate”

refers to any person receiving tuition at a public or independent school or at a learning institution under an accredited assessment body, who enrolled for an examination.

“certification”

means the formal recognition of a qualification or part qualification awarded to a successful candidate.

“Department of Basic Education”

means the national department responsible for basic education, grades R to 12, which includes general and further education and training.

“Department of Higher Education and Training”

means the national department responsible for further education and training/technical and vocational education in colleges, higher education, and adult education and training.

“General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-framework”

means the sub-framework of qualifications developed and managed by Umalusi for National Qualifications Framework (NQF) levels 1 to 4 as envisioned in Chapter 2 of the NQF Act.

“GENFETQA Act”

means the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, 2001 (Act No. 58 of 2001, as amended).

“Learning area certificate”

means the certificate issued by Umalusi where a candidate has not met the minimum requirements of the qualification but has obtained credits towards the qualification.

“Minister”

means the minister responsible for Basic Education or the minister responsible for Higher Education and Training.

“National Qualifications Framework”

means the comprehensive system, approved by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, for the classification, registration, publication and articulation of quality assured national qualifications and part-qualifications. The South African NQF is a single integrated system comprising three coordinated qualifications sub-frameworks: those for General and Further Education and Training, for Higher Education and Training, and for Trades and Occupations.

“NQF Act”

means the National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008 (Act No 67 of 2008, as amended.

“part qualification”

means an assessed unit of learning (subject or learning area) with a clearly defined purpose that is, or will be, registered as part of a qualification on the NQF.

“qualification”

means a registered national qualification consisting of a planned combination of learning outcomes which has a defined purpose or purposes, intended to provide qualifying learners with applied competence and a basis for further learning and which has been assessed in terms of exit level outcomes, registered on the NQF, and certified and awarded by a recognised body.

“quality assurance”

means the process of measuring, evaluating and reporting on quality against standards, and monitoring for ongoing improvement in the qualification, the curriculum/programme, the assessment, the implementation and delivery of the curriculum, and the capacity of the institution or assessment body to offer and/or assess the qualification.

“replacement certificate”

means a certificate issued—

(a)	to a candidate who has not qualified for a certificate in one examination sitting (change of status);

(b)	when the original is lost, damaged or destroyed (duplicate); and

(c)	post-irregularity when the sanction period has elapsed.

“re-issue of a certificate”

means the re-issuing of a certificate where personal details on the original certificate are not correct or have legally changed or if the certificate was lost before receipt by the candidate.

“subject statement”