June 5th 2024 update: This article has been replaced by this one: https://limegreentraining.co.za/list-of-qualifications-that-will-be-extended-past-30-june-2024/
I explore this 3rd June Gazette no. 50742. Will unit standards be extended? The short answer: There are no blanket extensions. It is on a case by case basis. There are conditions… I emailed Thomas Lata (Chief Director at QCTO) asking for the list of 374 programs that will be re-registered, and he said they will be on the QCTO before 7th June (this article was updated 5th June).
June 5th 2024 update: This article has been replaced by this one: https://limegreentraining.co.za/list-of-qualifications-that-will-be-extended-past-30-june-2024
Because I mostly assist clients with their short programs (skills programs and unit standards) in a niche industry (first aid, fire, OHS) I read this gazette through that lens. This article talks about qualifications and unit standards (which make up qualifications) and sometimes I will use the word “qualification” meaning a unit standard or qualification.
The directive is signed off by Dr Nzimande, and is the “Directive on the Implementation and Transitional Arrangements for pre-2009 Qualifications”. Why does it say pre-2009 though? Read on…
The NQF Act replaced the SAQA act in 2008. The national qualifications framework as per the SAQA Act (pre-2009) had just 8 NQF levels. The NQF act replaced it in 2008 with 10 NQF levels instead of 8.
As a result of the difference in NQF levels (the old 8 vs the new 10) all qualifications had to get “onto the new system” and as such had to be re-registered with this NQF change worked into it.
This directive directly states that despite being directly instructed to do so by ministers, SETA’s “have not all adequately taken up this function”, with the “function” being replacing pre-2009 qualifications with newer SAQA aligned ones (with the 10 level NQF system). This now further translates to SETA’s having to convert their programs to QCTO qualifications and skills programs.
The directive is about pre-2009 qualifications. I could not find a list of “definitely pre-2009 qualifications”. The gazette says there are exactly 1475 of them though (implying there is a list).
I suspect the term “pre-2009 qualifications” could maybe include some post-2009 qualifications, since the transition has been going on for 15 years (and counting) and the lines could now blurred between qualifications that are post-2009 versions of and pre-2009 qualifications. I could be wrong about that though. If I am wrong, this directive may well only apply to those that are truly pre-2009, and no others.
I am waiting for a list of 374 programs that are to be re-registered. QCTO say they will release it by 7th June 2024. I will keep an eye out for it…
Other than that:
Section 5.1 says: “There are no blanket extensions”. This is in line with my predictions in previous articles.
Section 5.2 says that a qualification (or unit standard) will be deregistered if:
To elaborate: If:
1. It has been replaced by the QCTO: In practice it would seem that if US119567 (SETA basic first aid) has been replaced by SP230801 (QCTO basic first aid) the unit standard will be deregistered.
2. It is dormant and not re-aligned: Dormancy must be “confirmed by consultation with industry” but I recommend you do not wait for the SETA to contact you. The directive already levelled blame against some SETA’s about not “taking up their function”, so don’t assume they will “take up the function” of contacting your industry. Rather contact them first. Also, see point 4 below about motivation…
3. It is no longer relevant: “Relevance” seems to be left entirely up to the SETA’s take on it.
4. There is insufficient motivation for extension: This too is inline with my predictions in previous articles. I encourage you to petition your SETA to apply to the QCTO to establish your program. I believe the petitioning must be specific. Specific to your SETA, to your industry and sector, and to the course you want established. E.g. HWSETA, health and welfare and emergency care, and first aid. It is in the directive that you must motivate for extension, and that there are no blanket extensions.
The directive implies that 1101 qualifications will be deregistered based on the above reasoning. It does not list them though.
YOUR PROGRAM MIGHT BE EXTENDED WHEN:
Section 5.3 says that a qualification (or unit standard) can be extended for a maximum of 2 years only on a case by case basis (no blanket extensions), and:
The directive implies that 374 qualifications could be extended based on the above reasoning. It does not list them though.
The directive makes conclusions:
Conclusion 1: The author implies this is not a collapse of the education system, but only affects 4% of the NQF registered qualifications (374 out of 9000). To come to this conclusion the author must be saying that most of the 9000 qualifications were not in use anyway? Also the numbers don’t add up, the directive directly says it affects at least 1475 qualifications (374 that could be extended, and 1101 that probably won’t).
Conclusion 2: The author says the SETA’s should be working closely with the QCTO and SAQA. This I agree with, but there should be a concession, or there should be accountability. There obviously cannot be neither. The author passed the buck to the SETA’s here.
Conclusion 3 and 4 don’t really have any meaning. They just say there is a transition happening and it should be dealt with in this space (the QCTO/SETA space I assume)
Conclusion 5: The author says that no learner will be prejudiced by losing very old qualifications. Again, this seems out of whack with what is happening on the ground, it is clear that active programs are being discontinued.
The author missed the whole point!
SETA’s are closing the door on new SDP applications and renewals, and QCTO is not taking up the same programs expressed in SAQA qualifications and unit standards. QCTO requires that they are converted into QCTO qualifications and skills programs and applications go through QCTO.
You cannot apply to QCTO for unit standard 252250 Basic Fire for example, and so the access to that program is cut off because QCTO does not have a skills program to replace US252250.
The SETA’s (who the directive itself accuses of not all doing their job) are not all doing their job and they ARE prejudicing learners and causing the collapse of the education system to at least some degree by not creating enough QCTO skills programs to replace unit standards they (the SETA) were the delegated functionary of.
My article below stands true. I urge you to follow the advice given here.
Main points in the article linked below that reflect in this article above include:
Read the article here:
