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 | |||
BAND | SCHOOL GRADE | NQF LEVEL | QUALIFICATIONS |
HIGHER | 8 | Doctors Degree | |
7 | Masters Degree | ||
Honours Degree | |||
Postgraduate Diploma | |||
6 | General first Degree | ||
Professional first degree postgraduate | |||
Bachelor’s Degree | |||
5 | First Diploma | ||
Higher Certificate | |||
Certificate | |||
FURTHER | 12 | 4 | Diploma |
11 | 3 | Certificate | |
10 | 2 | Certificate | |
GENERAL | 9 | 1 | Grade 9 Basic Adult Education Training Level 4 |
8 | |||
7 | |||
6 | |||
5 | |||
4 | |||
3 | |||
2 | |||
1 | |||
R |