This article by Roland Innes, Group CEO at DYNA Training, is titled ‘Navigating South Africa’s implementation of the OQSF and occupational programmes – why meeting the 2024 June 30 deadline matters’. This is part one of a two-part series.
Roland Innes, Group CEO at DYNA Training. Supplied by DYNA Training
South Africa is at a crossroads of a significant educational and vocational transition as the implementation of the Occupational Qualifications Sub Framework (OQSF) and the roll-out of occupational programmes gain significant momentum. The CEO of the QCTO, Mr. Vijayen Naidoo, has announced that the transition is imminent, and that existing legacy or unit-standard based qualifications will not be re-registered. Long anticipated but now undeniable, this shift carries substantial implications for various industries, employers and training providers now referred to as Skills Development Providers (SDPs).
The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is a comprehensive system for the classification, co-ordination, registration and publication of articulated and quality-assured national qualifications. The NQF comprises three qualifications sub-frameworks for General and Further Education and Training Sub-Framework (GFETQSF), Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF), and OQSF.
At the heart of the NQF is transferability, quality and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), promoting flexibility and mobility in the education and employment sectors. Individuals who have acquired skills and knowledge through work experience or other means can have their skills and knowledge assessed and recognised as part of a qualification.
What makes occupational qualifications different?
Occupational qualifications are designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to perform specific job roles effectively and efficiently. Central to the design of occupational qualifications are the inclusion of Knowledge, Practical and Work Experience modules.
The shift towards occupational qualifications on the OQSF may present a challenge for companies accustomed to providing legacy or unit-standard based qualifications. The repercussions extend beyond individual learning journeys and extend to business, impacting B-BBEE scorecards, which need to be aligned to a new strategy for workplace education in SA. This makes it vital for organisations to reassess their training portfolios to ensure alignment with the OQSF framework, or to seek suitable alternatives for discontinued qualifications, skills programmes or short courses. Skills Development Providers (SDPs) play a critical role in assisting organisations with the transition to occupational programmes.
Source: DYNA Training
