General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, 2001 (Act No. 58 of 2001)Policy for the Quality Assurance of Private Adult Learning Centres, Private Further Education and Training Colleges and the Accreditation of Private Assessment Bodies in terms of Sections 17A(2)(a) and 23Chapter 2 : Rationale and application of the policy4. Purpose of the Policy |
| 1) | The purpose of this policy is to set requirements for the quality assurance of private adult learning centres and private further education and training colleges, and the accreditation and monitoring of assessment bodies in respect of general and further education and training. |
| 2) | In order to certify learning achievements with confidence, private adult learning centres, private further education and training colleges and assessment bodies must be inextricably linked. |
| 3) | Private adult learning centres and private further education and training colleges are therefore required to align with an accredited assessment body which will examine the curriculum enacted at their sites of learning. Private adult learning centres and private further education and training colleges must ensure delivery of quality teaching and learning which will culminate in credible and valid assessment. |
| 4) | Likewise, accredited assessment bodies must support private adult learning centres and private further education and training colleges that are enacting the curriculum that they assess. |
| 5) | The quality assurance of private adult learning centres and private further education and training colleges has as its key focus the enactment of curriculum through - |
| a) | mission directed leadership and management that enables curriculum implementation; |
| b) | teaching proficiency, including appropriate pedagogy and methodology; |
| c) | quality internal assessment; |
| d) | student learning and support; and |
| e) | quality assurance measures in support of the continuous improvement of results. |
| 6) | The assessment system is a key driver of quality in the education and training system and sets the standards for general and further education and training. As such, assessment bodies must meet the requirements of this policy through - |
| a) | designing, conducting and managing internal and external assessments as prescribed in a particular curriculum; |
| b) | undertaking internal moderation of assessment instruments; |
| c) | ensuring external moderation of assessment instruments; |
| d) | supplying the QC with marks and/or other records of assessments conducted, as specified by the QC; |
| e) | taking adequate measures to ensure the security and integrity of the assessment process, including combating irregularities; |
| f) | publishing assessment results on approval by QC; |
| g) | developing a cadre of competent assessment personnel, including but not limited to examiners, moderators, markers and invigilators; |
| h) | undertaking development and research that will enhance the achievement of educational outcomes, and |
| i) | fulfilling any other functions as stipulated in the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, 2001 (Act No.58 of 2001) and any relevant policies and directives issued by the QC. |
| 7) | This policy must be read and understood in conjunction with the following documents: |
| a) | Developing and maintaining the GENFETQA sub-framework (Umalusi Council, Dec 2008); |
| b) | Other related legislation as appropriate to the various education sectors Umalusi is mandated to work in; |
| c) | QC policies and directives on the conduct, administration and management of the assessments for the qualifications and part qualifications on the sub-framework, as well any other qualifications identified and registered by the SAQA in consultation with the QC; |
| d) | The regulations that are developed by the Department of Higher Education and Training and gazetted by the Minister on assessment policies; and |
| e) | Any other relevant policies and directives issued by the QC. |