By Akani Nkuna
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela said on Thursday that government will gazette targeted extensions for some pre-2009 qualifications next week, as it moves to phase in a modern occupational qualifications system.
The extensions, expected to be published in the Government Gazette on Monday, form part of transitional arrangements under the Directive on Transitional Arrangements for Pre-2009 Qualifications, which was published on 3 June 2024.
“As government advances the transition towards a modernised occupational qualifications system, our foremost priority is to protect the value of qualifications, uphold public confidence in the skills development system, and ensure that every learner is afforded a fair and meaningful pathway to success and employability,” Manamela said.
“This transition is about far more than the replacement of legacy qualifications. It represents a fundamental step in building a more responsive, relevant and future-focused skills development system aligned with the needs of a rapidly evolving economy.”
He said the transition was one of the most significant reforms in South Africa’s post-school education and training system.
The directive established a policy framework to move South Africa from pre-2009 qualifications towards a modern occupational qualifications system that better reflects workplace requirements, technological advancement and the changing needs of the economy.
Its objectives include ensuring an orderly transition to a modernised qualifications framework, accelerating the development and implementation of occupational qualifications, strengthening the responsiveness and credibility of qualifications, improving alignment between education, training and labour market needs, and reinforcing accountability among SETAs, quality councils and other implementing bodies.
Manamela said substantial progress had been made through collaboration between the DHET, the South African Qualifications Authority, Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, SETAs, public institutions, Skills Development Providers and industry stakeholders.
To date, 948 occupational qualifications and part-qualifications have been registered on the National Qualifications Framework.
When the directive was issued, 1,475 pre-2009 qualifications had reached their registration end date.
Following consultation with stakeholders, 630 qualifications were approved for learner enrolment extension, while the remaining qualifications were deregistered because they had no learner enrolment or had been replaced by occupational qualifications.
“All affected qualifications allowed currently enrolled learners sufficient opportunity to complete their studies,” Manamela said.
He said government had assessed qualifications individually and grouped them according to their readiness and impact on learners and the skills development system.
Pre-2009 qualifications that qualify for further transitional support will receive targeted extensions ranging from six to 24 months, depending on sector readiness, learner impact, the availability of replacement qualifications and labour market requirements.
“These are not blanket extensions — each qualification has been assessed on its own merits,” Manamela said.
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The list of qualifications approved for extension will be published in the Government Gazette and on the SAQA website, together with the affected qualifications and their replacement occupational qualifications.
Manamela said learners currently enrolled in affected qualifications may continue their studies within the approved transitional arrangements, while accredited Skills Development Providers should familiarise themselves with the applicable extension periods and teach-out requirements.
The department has also issued separate teach-out arrangements for NATED Report 190-1 programmes because of their continued relevance in the education and training landscape.
“Students currently enrolled in N4 to N6 programmes should therefore continue with their studies as planned and should not be concerned that their qualifications will lose recognition,” Manamela said.
The department is working with SETAs, industry partners and other government departments to facilitate placement opportunities that will allow qualifying students to complete their National N Diplomas.
Manamela said government would grant extensions of up to three years for regulatory unit standards that continue to underpin statutory and industry programmes, to allow regulators and industries time to review programme requirements and transition to replacement occupational skills programmes.
For trades, he said no further extension would be required where occupational qualifications had already been developed and implemented. However, targeted transitional arrangements of about one year may be considered where replacement occupational qualifications have not yet been fully developed or implemented.
The department has appointed a technical task team to oversee and coordinate the transition process.
Manamela said the team would identify and resolve implementation bottlenecks, monitor progress against clear timelines, and coordinate workstreams dealing with communications, legal and regulatory matters, SETA coordination, data management, assessment to certification, quality assurance, TVET rollout, funding norms and monitoring and evaluation.
He said the department, with support from SETAs, facilitates the placement of about 21,000 TVET students in workplaces annually.
The department was also prioritising engagements with public- and private-sector employers to expand work-integrated learning opportunities, while exploring funding mechanisms with SETAs, the National Skills Fund and employers.
“Every qualification that has already been awarded remains valid, recognised and recorded on the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD),” he said.
He said legacy qualifications had contributed meaningfully to workforce development and economic participation over many years, but the economy had changed and the skills system had to adapt.
“However, these qualifications have favoured the classroom over the workshop. What we are introducing are qualifications that guarantee practical experience and workplace placement,” Manamela said.
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DDG responsible for TVET Colleges, Sam Zungu, said TVET colleges had experienced an oversupply in areas such as Office Administration, Human Resource Management, Public Administration and Marketing, where demand was not matched by the number of students enrolled.
He said these programmes were under review to ensure TVET colleges offer skills that are in demand.
He said after requests from the mining sector, TVET’s would be amplifying drone technology and robotics.
Manamela said the reforms were aimed at building public confidence in the post-school education and training system and making qualifications more responsive to industry needs.
“Our objective is clear: to build a qualifications system that commands public trust, meets the demands of industry, supports economic development and equips South Africans with the skills required to thrive in the jobs of today and the opportunities of the future,” he said.
He said SAQA and the QCTO would continue to monitor implementation, qualification uptake, learner progression and overall system performance beyond the extension period, in collaboration with SETAs, Skills Development Providers, TVET colleges, employers and industry stakeholders.
“Finally, South Africa is moving towards a modern, high-quality occupational qualifications system that responds to the needs of industry, strengthens the competitiveness of our economy and expands opportunities for all. This transition is the beginning of a stronger, more responsive and future-ready skills development system that will serve generations of South Africans to come,” Manamela said.
