The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is South Africa’s system for organising different levels of education and training. It helps make sure that qualifications are recognised and trusted across the country. The NQF is made up of three sub-frameworks, and each one plays a different role in the education system. Let’s take a closer look at how they work.
- General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework (GFETQSF)
- Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF)
- Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF)
Each sub-framework is managed by a Quality Council, and has the following responsibilities:
- Develop qualifications and part qualifications
- Quality assure the qualifications
- Develop and implement the following policies for their specific sectors:
- Recognition of Prior Learning
- Credit Accumulation and Transfer
- Assessment
- Recommend qualifications to South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) to register on the NQF
Check out the table below to see where each sub-framework fits in the NQF levels and explore examples of each one:
NQF Level | Sub-Framework [with examples] |
1 | GFETQSF (Grade 9) |
2 | GFETQSF (Grade 10 or equivalent) |
3 | GFETQSF (Grade 11 or equivalent) |
4 | GFETQSF (National Senior Certificate / Matric / Grade 12) |
5 | HEQSF / OQSF (Higher Certificate) |
6 | HEQSF / OQSF (Diploma / Advanced Certificate) |
7 | HEQSF (Bachelor’s Degree) |
8 | HEQSF (Honours / Postgraduate Diploma) |
9 | HEQSF (Master’s Degree) |
10 | HEQSF (Doctoral Degree) |
General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework
The General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework (GFETQSF) provides general education qualifications. And it consists of NQF levels 1-4.
This sub-framework is a combination of two study groups, namely:
- Children and adolescents in the basic education schooling system (Basic and Further Education)
- Adolescents and adults that are out of school (Adult Basic Education)
These two groups have diverse needs that range from receiving Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET), to achieving a certificate giving them access to Higher Education or employment.
The GFETQSF is designed to:
- Be flexible enough to accommodate different types of general and further educational needs. As well as, enable various public and private institutions to pursue their teaching and learning obligations.
- Assist with the education of learners, whether they are of school-going age or older. So that they can contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of South Africa.
- Provide qualifications that can be compared credibly against similar qualifications internationally.
- Allow for the development of new qualification variants or programmes as the need arises.
- Be simple, clear, easy to understand and user-friendly
- Ease the articulation between qualifications within the sub-framework and other Quality Council qualifications.
Qualifications
These qualifications fall under the General and Further Education and Training Sub-Framework (GFETQSF), which is managed by Umalusi. This framework consists of four qualification types, each with their own NQF Level:
- General Certificate (NQF 1)
- Elementary Certificate (NQF 2)
- Intermediate Certificate (NQF 3)
- National Certificate (NQF 4)
Quality Council
Umalusi is the Quality Council responsible for the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework. It ensures that qualifications at this level meet national standards and are properly quality assured.
Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework
The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) provides the Higher Education qualifications in the National Qualifications Framework. It consists of the NQF Levels 5-10.
The HEQSF is designed to:
- Be flexible enough to accommodate different types of higher education institutions. As well as, to enable institutions to pursue their own curriculum goals with creativity and innovation.
- Guide the education of graduates who will contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of South Africa. And participate successfully in the global economy and knowledge society.
- Enhance the development of a vibrant, high-quality research system.
- Be compatible with international qualifications frameworks. In order to ensure international recognition and comparability of standards.
- Accommodate the development of new qualification types and specialisations as the need arises.
- Be simple, clear, easy to understand and user-friendly for the higher education system and its clients.
- Ease qualifications articulation across the higher education system. And help students identify potential progression routes.
- Articulate with the rest of the NQF.
Qualifications
The framework has 11 qualification types which are mapped onto six levels on the NQF. Some levels have more than one qualification type.
Undergraduate:
- Higher certificate (NQF 5)
- Advanced certificate (NQF 6)
- Diploma (NQF 6)
- Advanced diploma (NQF 7)
- Bachelor’s degree (NQF 7)
Postgraduate:
- Postgraduate diploma (NQF 8)
- Bachelors honours degree (NQF 8)
- Master’s degree (NQF 9)
- Professional Master’s degree (NQF 9)
- Doctoral degree (NQF 10)
- Professional Doctorate (NQF 10)
Quality Council
The Quality Council responsible for the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework is the Council on Higher Education (CHE). It oversees the development and quality assurance of higher education qualifications such as diplomas and degrees.
Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework
The Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF) is an essential part of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), and is consistent with NQF practice.
The Bill of Rights states that every person has the right to choose their trade, occupation or profession. Therefore, the OQSF is responsible for making qualifications that give people access to the occupations, trades or professions.
An occupational or part qualification shows that a learner has been assessed as occupationally competent.
The OQSF is designed to:
- Guide the training of post-school learners to contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of South Africa.
- Provide occupational and part qualifications that are compatible with international occupational qualifications to ensure recognition and comparability of standards.
- Accommodate the development of new trade and occupational or part qualification types and specialisations, as the need arises.
- Be simple, easy to understand and user-friendly for the occupational training system and its clients.
- Support the articulation between the qualifications in the sub-framework and other Quality Council’s qualifications.
Quality Council
The Quality Council of Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is the quality council responsible for the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework. An Occupational certificate is the formal recognition and certification of learning achievement awarded by the QCTO.
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Author: Kayla Preston
Date Published: 11 December 2020
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