Higher Education Act and National Qualifications Framework ...

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2 (ACT 2008 ACT, Framework Qualifications National . AND 1997) OF 101 NO. (ACT 1997 ACT, Education Higher . 40750 Higher Education Act (101/1997) and National Qualifications Framework Act (67/2008): policy on Minimun Requirements for Programmes Leading to Qualifications in Higher Education for Early Childhood development Educators 299 31 MARCH 2017 NO. 299 . DEPARTMENT OF Higher Education AND TRAINING. Higher Education and Training, Department of/ Ho r Onderwys en Opleiding, Departement van Government Notices Goewermentskennisgewings GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31 MARCH 2017 4 No. 40750 STAATSKOERANT, 31 MAART 2017 No. 40750 5.., Higher Education & training Department: Higher Education and Training REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.)

3 policy on Minimum Requirements for Programmes Leading to Qualifications in Higher Education for Early Childhood development Educators MARCH 2017. This gazette is also available free online at 6 No. 40750 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31 MARCH 2017. Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations 2. Glossary 3. 1. Background to the policy 5. Early childhood development in historical context 5. An evolving early childhood development policy environment 5. 2. Purpose and Scope of the policy 7. 3. Principles Underpinning the policy and its Implementation 10. 4. Developing Purposeful Programmes through an Appropriate 10. Knowledge Mix for Different Programmes 5. Recognition of Prior Learning 15.

4 6. Credit Accumulation and Transfer 15. 7. Advanced Standing 16. 8. Work-integrated Learning 16. 9. Language Proficiency Requirements for Programmes Leading to 17. Initial Professional Qualifications for Early Childhood development Educators 10. Programmes Leading to Qualifications for Early Childhood 18. development Educators 11. Entry Level Qualification in Early Childhood Care and Education 19. 12. Initial Professional Qualifications for Early Childhood development 20. Educators Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education 20. Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Care and Education 23. degree 13. Post-professional Qualifications for Early Childhood development 26.

5 Educators Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education 26. Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education 28. Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education 29. 14. Postgraduate Degrees in Early Childhood development 31. 15. Implementation of the policy on Minimum Requirements for 31. Programmes Leading to Qualifications in Higher Education for Early Childhood development Educators 16. Approval and Accreditation of New Programmes Leading to the 32. Qualifications Described in this policy Appendix 1: Basic Competences for Professionally Qualified Early 33. Childhood development Educators Appendix 2: Articulation of Historical and/or Current ECD 35.

6 Qualifications into the Qualifications Described in this policy . 1. This gazette is also available free online at STAATSKOERANT, 31 MAART 2017 No. 40750 7. Acronyms and Abbreviations ECD Early Childhood development ETDP SETA Education , Training and development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority FETC Further Education and Training Certificate HCert Higher Certificate HEI Higher Education Institution HEQC Higher Education Quality Committee HEQSF Higher Education Qualification Sub- Framework ICT Information and Communication Technology LoCC Language of Conversational Competence LoLT Language of Learning and Teaching MRTEQ Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications NASCA National Senior Certificate for Adults NCF National Curriculum Framework for Children from Birth to Four, 2015.

7 NCV National Certificate (Vocational). NDP National development Plan: Vision 2030. NELDS National Early Learning development Standards NIECD National Integrated Early Childhood development policy NQF National Qualifications Framework NSC National Senior Certificate PGDip Postgraduate Diploma PQM Programme and Qualifications Mix QCTO Quality Council for Trades and Occupations RPL Recognition of Prior Learning SAIDE South African Institute for Distance Education SAQA South African Qualifications Authority SASL South African Sign Language TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training UMALUSI Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training WIL Work-integrated Learning 2 online at This gazette is also available free 8

8 No. 40750 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31 MARCH 2017. Glossary Child-minders : Persons who provide care and early learning for six children or fewer, typically in their own homes. Also in some contexts referred to as day mothers . Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) : A term chosen as a qualifier to name some of the Qualifications in this policy that are intended to develop educators who are able to support and promote early learning and development for babies, toddlers and young children. According to the Higher Education Qualification Sub- Framework (HEQSF). (Council on Higher Education [CHE], 2013, p. 19), qualifiers indicate a field of specialisation, in this case ECCE.

9 The use of a qualifier requires that at least 50% of the credits in the qualification and at least 50% of the credits at the exit level of the qualification must be in the field of specialisation. Early Childhood development Educators : Individuals who hold appropriate Qualifications that enable them to deliver or support the delivery of structured early childhood Education programmes for babies, toddlers and young children effectively. Such programmes are focused on stimulating early learning, including formal curricula such as the National Curriculum Framework for Children from Birth to Four, 2015 (NCF). Early Childhood development Practitioners : Persons who provide early childhood development (ECD) services through formal ECD programmes; family services and playgroups; and training, as well as those providing management support services to these workers.

10 Early Childhood development Programmes : Programmes that provide one, or a collection of, daily care, development and early learning services and support to a child from birth until the year before she/he enters school. These programmes include, but are not limited to: Community-based play groups operating for specific hours. Outreach and support programmes for young children and their families/caregivers at a household level. Parenting support and enrichment programmes. Support for the psychosocial needs of young children and their families. ECD programmes provided at partial care facilities and child and youth care centres as contemplated in section 91(1) of the Children's Act, Act 38 of 2005.