The National Qualifications Framework Act, No 68 of 2008, gives effect to the development of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and three subframeworks. The General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Subframework, one of the three sub-frameworks, co-exists with the Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework (OQSF) and the Higher Education Qualifications Subframework (HEQSF). The NQF Act also provides for the establishment of Umalusi as a Quality Council for General and Further Education and Training alongside the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Furthermore, the NQF Act, provides for Umalusi to develop and manage the sub-framework for its sector; the general and further education and training sector.
The General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-framework is a register of various qualifications from NQF level 1 to NQF Level 4. These are vocational and academic qualifications offered in public and independent schools, public and private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and public and private Adult Learning Centres.
The General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-framework has been designed to have three streams which are the academic stream for schooling, vocational stream for TVET colleges and the adult stream for qualifications addressing the needs of adult learners. Having three streams on the sub-framework has meant that Umalusi works with the two departments of education, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The DBE is responsible for the provision of all academic qualifications offered in schools and technical schools, while the DHET takes responsibility for the provision of all vocational qualifications offered in TVET colleges and adult qualifications offered in Adult Learning Centres.
To this end Umalusi has developed the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-framework which was determined by the Minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training in 2013. Various qualifications from NQF level 1 to NQF level 4 have been registered on the sub-framework (See the matrix of Umalusi quality assured qualifications).
In 2014, Umalusi developed and published the Policy for the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-framework. The policy provides for the development of general and further education and training qualifications. The policy provides detailed descriptions of the various qualification types registered on the sub-framework. Furthermore, the policy promotes public understanding of the relationships that exist between the various qualifications registered on the subframework. Most importantly the policy provides guidance to Umalusi`s assortment of stakeholders on matters relating to the sub-framework and the qualifications registered on the sub-framework. Helen Matshoba is a Manager for Qualifications at Umalusi