Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997)

Notice No. 1114

26 November 2009

GG 32743

Department of Higher Education and Training

I, Bonginkosi Emmanual Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education and Training, hereby promulgate, in terms of section 3 of the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997), the policy on the Minimum Admission Requirements for Higher Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes Requiring a National Certificate (Vocational) at Level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework, as set out in the Schedule.

This policy will be applicable to all higher education institutions, and takes effect from 1 January 2010.

With the introduction of the National Certificates (Vocational) qualification for the college sector, it has become necessary to develop a policy framework, which enables eligible college graduates to gain access to higher education programmes. This policy has no precedent in the college sector. It creates an opportunity for the development of highly skilled students through a vocational route into higher education.

While this policy attempts to outline statutory minimum admission requirements into higher education through the National Certificate (Vocational) level 4, it is cognizant of the fact that the setting of such minimum admission requirements is, in terms of section 74 of the Higher Education Act, 1997, the responsibility of Higher Education South Africa (HESA), who is the successor to the South African University Vice-Chancellors Association (SAUVCA) and the Committee of Technikon Principals (CTP). HESA has approved the contents of this policy as statutory minimum admission requirements to higher education programmes requiring the National Certificate (Vocational) in terms of section 74 of the Higher Education Act, 1997.

Dr Bonginkosi Emmanual Nzimande, MP

Minister of Higher Education and Training

Date: 12-11-09