OPEN LETTER TO LEARNERS - Umalusi

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institution to offer the qualification you wish to enrol for, and ask for the accreditation number.Qualifications and ProgrammesPrivate providers generally offer a mix of three main types of qualifications, namely NationalQualifications, Provider Programmes and Agent Qualifications.National qualifications are formal qualifications registered on the National QualificationsFramework (NQF), which is a centralized register of all the nationally-recognized qualificationsin South Africa. National qualifications are quality assured by a Quality Council such as Umalusior by a sector education and training authority (SETA). These qualifications carry nationalcredits, and are certificated by either a SETA or a Quality Council (Umalusi), but not by aprovider.Examples of such qualifications are: the National Senior Certificate as offered by most highschools in South Africa; the GETC: Adult as offered by many adult education and trainingproviders; the National Certificate (Vocational) (NC(V)) offered by public FET colleges andsome private colleges; Further Education and Training Certificates of various kinds also offeredby FET colleges, such as Perishable Produce Exportation or Mechanical Engineering: Pipe-Fitting or Small Business Management and so forth. There are many such qualifications on theNQF.Please keep the following in mind before you enrol for a national qualification:• Ask the provider for written proof that the qualification is registered on the NQF – theNQF ID number should be in evidence, or check whether it is lodged on the NQF bygoing to www.saqa.org.za.• Ask for evidence that the provider is registered with the relevant provincial Departmentin the case of independent schools; and with the Department of Higher Education &Training in the case of private FET colleges, to offer the qualification you wish to enrol for– a certificate should be publicly displayed. To check on the registration status of aprivate FET colleges go to: www.dhet.gov.za. In the case of independent schoolscontact the appropriate provincial department of education.• Ask for evidence that the provider has approval or accreditation from the relevant SETAor Umalusi or the Council on Higher Education (CHE) to offer the qualification. To checkwhether a private provider is accredited with Umalusi go to www.umalusi.org.za; SETAaccredited providers can be found on the relevant SETA websites and also accessedthrough the SAQA website at www.saqa.org.za• If you are enrolling for a GETC / N Certificate / NC(V) or National Senior Certificate,keep in mind that you will write national examinations set by the Department ofEducation or an accredited private assessment body. Providers are not allowed to settheir own examinations or issue certificates for these qualifications. These qualificationsare certified by Umalusi.
Provider Programmes• If you are enrolling on a programme offered by a private provider, remember that theyserve a different purpose to that of national qualifications. Provider programmes areusually designed to address specific education, training and development needs thatmay not necessarily be addressed by any of the registered national qualifications.These may be, for example, courses for self-enrichment, continuous professionaldevelopment, self-employment, or orientation to a specific career.• Provider programmes are examined and certified by the provider and are not qualityassured by an external body, i.e. the college issues the recognition rather than an ETQA.Such programmes are not registered on the NQF, do not carry any national credits, anddo not lead to a national qualification registered on the NQF.Agent Qualifications• Some providers offer qualifications and programmes on behalf of other awardingbodies. Some of these qualifications are national qualifications registered on the NQFwhile others are not, and some are foreign qualifications. The provider acts as an agentof the awarding body. Examples include qualifications and programmes examined andcertified by Cambridge international, Microsoft, Institute of Marketing Management(IMM), Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), City and Guilds andso forth.To summarise:• Decide what kind of programme or qualification you wish to enrol for, and ensurethat you are fully informed i.e. is it a national qualification, a provider programme oran agency qualification. Remember also to establish what the certificate will meanonce you have completed it: Will it be recognized nationally? Will it ensure a job?Will it be recognized internationally? Or will it provide enrichment or professionaldevelopment without necessarily providing you with an additional, recognisedqualification?• Check whether the provider is registered with the state to offer the specificqualification you wish to enrol for.• Check whether the provider is accredited either with a Quality Council such asUmalusi or the Council on Higher Education (CHE), or with a Sector Education andTraining Authority (SETA) to offer the qualification you wish to enrol for?If you need advice on the qualifications certificated by Umalusi or the private providersaccredited by Umalusi, contact us at:Website: www.umalusi.org.zaTel: 012 3491510Fax: 012-3491511Email: info@umalusi.org.zaAlternatively contact or visit the NQF helpline at:
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OPEN LETTER TO LEARNERS - Umalusi

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