Guiding excellence - an explanantion by the Field Guides Association of SA (FGASA), but equally applicable to non-FGASA guides: NQF (NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK) The NQF is a framework for constructing a qualifications system. It integrates education and training into a unified structure of recognized qualifications. It is a National grid into which all training and education standards are registered according to: • Their field of learning • Their level of progression The NQF makes it easier for learners to enter and progress in the system, improves the quality of education and training, ensures that all registered qualifications are of a consistent standard and have credibility, opens up learning and work opportunities, and enables learners to develop to their full potential. NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (NQ’s) NQ’s have been developed for all industries e.g. for tourist guiding. They are work-based qualifications and individuals are (as far as is practically possible) assessed doing their job in their work place. NQ’s are based on national standards and are recognised by industries throughout South Africa. NQ’s are tied to a specific route of learning. This means that organisations of all sizes and from various sectors can offer qualifications as long as they are accredited to do so. NQ’s provide individuals with a clear path in terms of career development and employers with a means to recruiting competent and qualified staff. SAQA The South African Qualifications Authority is an independent body, not a state department or an arm of government. It operates independently of business and the education sector. Its functions are to oversee the development and implementation of the NQF; to formulate policy; and to see to the registration of national standards and qualifications. SETA A Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) is a body comprising representatives form a particular economic sector. A SETA’s key role is to ensure that effective education and training occurs that meets the current and future needs of that sector. CATHSSETA (previously THETA) Was “born” on 1st April 2000 with their scope being increased in 2010. It now includes seven chambers, namely: Culture and Art, Travel and Tourism Services (general travel operations), Gambling and Lotteries, Conservation and Leisure (guiding fits in here as this includes leisure and special attractions and wildlife conservation), Sports and Recreation. The name was changed in November 2010 to CATHSSETA to include the culture and Arts to the existing THETA chambers. CATHSSETA stands for: Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training authority. CATHSSETA ACCREDITED PROVIDERS CATHSSETA accredits training providers and registers qualified assessors to train and assess recognised unit standards, skills programmes and qualifications. FGASA is an accredited provider with CATHSSETA and is scoped for various unit standards, skills programmes and qualifications. When an individual becomes a member of FGASA s/he is registered by the FGASA office on the CATHSSETA database as a learner. Once a learner has been declared competent by a FGASA registered assessor (registered with CATHSSETA) FGASA records the learner’s achievements on the CATHSSETA database so that CATHSSETA can produce the relevant certificate. This certificate is sent to the FGASA office and the learner is contacted to determine if the certificate will be collected at the FGASA office or if the certificate needs to be posted (registered mail) to the learner. FGASA also provides the learner with a “Competence Letter” and a FGASA membership category certificate on declaration of competence for the relevant FGASA and CATHSSETA skills programme or qualification. The learner takes the FGASA Competence letter, FGASA Certificate(s) and the CATHSSETA certificate (if available at that stage) to the National Department of Tourism (NDT) with other NDT requirements, such as a valid First Aid certificate, in order to be registered as a legal guide. NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM (NDT) Once a learner is qualified s/he will need to register with NDT within in the relevant province at the Provincial NDT office. NDT have certain requirements to register including evidence of having attained a recognised CATHSSETA certificate and a competence letter from the training provider through which the learner was declared competent. NDT will issue the newly qualified guide with a card and a badge. The registration with NDT as a tourist guide (Nature, Culture, Adventure) is currently renewable every two years (this may change to three years) and thus in order to remain a legal guide s/he has to renew firstly the required First Aid certificate (at Level 1) and the registration with NDT. The expiry date is indicated on the card issued by NDT. YOUR CATHSSETA CERTIFICATE If you receive an email or SMS from the FGASA office indicating that “your CATHSSETA certificate is available – please contact the office”, it means that CATHSSETA have issued your certificate which you attained through FGASA. Comparison of CATHSSETA and FGASA qualifications • FGASA Local Guide = CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide NQF2 Skills programme • FGASA Level 1 = CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide NQF2 Skills programme (Based on FGASA’s current scoping as a provider with CATHSSETA all certificates currently issued by CATHSSETA to FGASA are for the Nature Site Guide NQF2 Skills programme ONLY) • Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC) – NQF4 (To become a Provincial guide or a National guide (all 9 Provinces) FGASA is in the process of getting scoping for the following: • FGASA Level 2 = CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide NQF4 Skills programme • FGASA Trails Guide = CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide Dangerous game areas NQF4 Skills programme
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 12:32:46 +0000
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