What prospective students must know before signing up
The National Qualification Framework explained
Education is expensive and there are many options.
It is therefore crucial that prospective students thoroughly research the ‘where’, ‘when’ and ‘how’ of higher education before signing up for a course that may not benefit them – or worse, one that is not official or accredited.
Education terminology in South Africa can be very confusing, particularly considering the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) accreditation and registration.
Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of the Independent Institute of Education, South Africa’s largest private higher education provider, says one of the most important aims of the NQF is to protect the general public from abuse by bogus education providers.
‘South Africa has a register of all qualifications which is managed by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), and this register is referred to as the NQF,’ she said.
‘We are fortunate in South Africa to have some really strict rules that educational institutions and training providers must adhere to.
‘There are a few simple questions to ask for which there are very clear answers. If an institution is not clear on the answers, prospective students should be cautious about registering.’
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Official qualifications must meet two criteria – firstly that it has a credit value of at least 120, and secondly that it is registered on the NQF with an NQF ID (or SAQA ID).
Coughlan warned that if an education institution cannot provide a prospective student with a programme’s NQF or SAQA ID, the qualification is not South African.
She also advised prospective students to verify a programme’s NQF ID on the SAQA website – https://regqs.saqa.org.za/.
‘Look up the qualification and check its level and credit value, as well as information about what it covers.
‘You can then compare that information to the marketing material given by the training provider to ensure the promises match the reality.’
Prospective students can find a complete list of all registered private colleges and higher education institutions at: www.dhet.gov.za/SitePages/DocRegisters.aspx.
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