These questions and answers provide information about the obligations of various CHIETA stakeholders in terms of the Skills Development Act, 1998, and the Skills Development Levies Act, 1999.

Index

1. What is the purpose of the Skills Development Act?
2. Who must pay the levy?
3. How does an employer register for the levy?
4. What is a Sector Education and Training Authority?
5. How will I know what to do in order to comply with the requirements?
6. Are any employers exempt from paying the levy?
7. To whom are levies payable?
8. How are levies payable?
9. What amount is payable?
10. By when is the levy payable?
11. Is there any interest and penalty incurred for late or non-payment?
12. When will the ETQA be ready to start receiving applications for accreditation from providers?
13. How do I register as a Skills Development Facilitator with the Chemical Industries Education and Training Athourity.
14. Who can I contact at the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority if I am having difficulty with my Workplace Skills Plans?
15. What is the deadline for the Workplace Skills Plans?
16. Why is it necessary to provide proof of payment?
17. What is proof of expenditure?
18. What is the purpose of a Workplace Skills Plan?
19. What is an Annual Training Report?
20. Why is it important to use an accredited training provider?
21. Does one get 50% of monies spent on training?
22. How long does it take for a company to be transferred from one SETA to another?
23. How does all grant monies received benefit the organization?
24. What are the requirements for claiming back Discretionary Grants?
25. Must internal training departments also be accredited by the ETQA?
26. For which different kinds of registered providers can the organisation make a claim for training completed?
27. What is the difference between an external provider and a vendor?
28. Why is it important for a company to use ETQA accredited and/or registered providers?
29. Does this mean that employers will not be able to claim for employees sent overseas for training?
30. How will workplace assessment be conducted if an organisation uses only external providers?
31. How do I know which ETQA I should use to accredit my Training Programmes?
32. What is the Accreditation Process?
33. Where could I find guidelines or Legislation to guide me through the application documentation?
34. What do I present to my clients as proof that I am in the process of becoming accredited?
35. What will this process cost me?
36. If I only want to be accredited as a training centre, do I need to complete all the documentation in the ETQA file?
37. If I decide to develop more courses or diversify after I have been accredited, do I need to go through the whole process again?
38. What does provisional accreditation mean?
39. What does interim registration mean?
40. What does "not yet recommended" mean?
41. What will happen to my business if it is found to be "not yet recommended"?
42. What can I do if I need help with my application for accreditation?

Index - Organisational Structure and Functions

1. What do SAQA staff do at SAQA?
2. Why do we do RPL?
3. If I cannot speak English, can I go for RPL?
4. How does RPL assessment differ from the other general assessment?
5. In the absence of providers ready to implement RPL what do we do with learners wanting RPL now?
6. Can I be accredited as a provider if I only offer courses of less than six months’ duration?
7. What does regulation 3(2)(g) of the ETQA Regulations mean?
8. Can a non-registered provider that wishes to be accredited as a provider of education and training in terms of regulation 13(a) of the ETQA Regulations apply to be registered with the ETQA from which it seeks accreditation prior to seeking such accreditation?
9. Do all private schools and further education and training establishments have to be registered and accredited to provide education and training?
10. Will any action be taken against schools that are not registered and/or accredited?
11. What are providers supposed to do while ETQAs are not yet accredited and yet learners need to enroll with accredited providers?
12. Are consultants and Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) supposed to meet the generic criteria for accreditation as education and training providers or are there special criteria for them since they are not institution based providers?
13. Does SAQA have a Quality Management System (QMS) that stakeholders can emulate?
14. Does SAQA sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ETQAs or is this an issue between ETQAs?
15. Does SAQA provide guidelines on the ideal relationship between formative and summative assessment in an integrated assessment system?
16. What do I do if I want to be registered as an assessor?
17. Do teachers have to be certificated and registered as assessors?
18. How do I know which ETQA should I be registered with once I have been trained as an assessor?
19. What is a SETA?
20. What must I do to have my foreign (non-South African) qualifications evaluated? What is the cost involved? How long does it take?
21. What are the criteria applied for evaluation of foreign qualification?
22. What is the legal status of these evaluations?
23. What is the CEEQ’s actual role regarding admission of prospective students at South African institutions of learning, professional registration in regulated professions or employment?
24. I need my South African qualifications evaluated for study / work purposes abroad. What must I do?
25. What is SAQA’s position in terms of the HSRC ratings accorded by the CEEQ to private education and training programmes during the nineties?
26. I want to have South African qualifications (national or private) evaluated and the "M+" rating determined. How can SAQA help me?
27. What is interim registration? How long will this process be in effect?
28. When will CHIETA Skills Advisors be made available?
29. What do I do if I would like someone to come and help me with my grant submission?
30. How do we go about ensuring that our clients are eligible to participate in the seta program and thereby recoup some of the expenses involved in the training offered?
31. Please define / explain Investment Entities and Trusts
32. Why should small employers participate in CHIETA?
33. Who should register with CHIETA?
34. How can I get involved with the CHIETA and make a contribution?
35. Are you a governmental organisation or a private organization with which we must be affiliated?
36. What is an SMME?
37. How do state organisations benefit from registering with CHIETA?
38. I am an SMME and do not plan for my training at the beginning of the year. Do I have to complete a Workplace Skills Plan and am I entitled to claim the Workplace Skills Plan training grant for training done during the year even if I have not submitted a Workplace Skills Plan to CHIETA?
39. I am a new company who wishes to register with CHIETA at SARS - what do I do?
40. Can we receive the Act etc, in Afrikaans?
41. Why is it that Government Departments affiliated to the line function CHIETA are not allowed to claim for the Grant when we are paying the levy?
42. How do I decide where to register?
43. How will I know what to do in order to comply with the requirements?
44. How many SETAS are there ?

1. What is the purpose of the Skills Development Act?

The short supply of skilled staff is a serious obstacle to the competitiveness of industry in South Africa. The levy grant scheme, imposed by the Skills Development Act, 1998, and the Skills Development Levy Act, 1999, aims to expand the knowledge and competencies of the labour force. Improvements in employability and productivity will be achieved through new approaches to planning for training, learning programmes, incentives and an improved employment service. Participating fully in the scheme will allow you to reap the benefits of a better skilled and more productive workforce.

2. Who must pay the levy?

Payment towards the levy grant scheme is legislated in terms of the Skills Development Levies Act, 1999. Under this act every employer in South Africa who;

• Is registered with SARS (South African Revenue Services) for PAYE;
  and
• Has an annual payroll in excess of R250,000;

Must register with SARS to pay the Skills Development Levy.

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3. How does an employer register for the levy?

Every employer who is liable to pay the levy must register for the payment of the levy with SARS by completing a registration form. (Form SDL 101 available from all SARS offices).

In order to register the employer must:

• Obtain a registration form (SDL 101) from any SARS office, if not received by mail,
• Choose from a list of registered Chemical Industries Education and Training Authorities (CHIETA) as indicated in the CHIETA classification guide provided with the registration form, the one CHIETA most representative of your activities.
• Choose a standard industry code (SIC) from the CHIETA classification guide which most accurately describes the nature of your business.

4. What is a Sector Education and Training Authority?

"CHIETA” stands for Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority. Twenty-five SETA’s were established by the Minister of Labour on 20 March 2000. They cover all the economic sectors in South Africa. The members and stakeholders of a SETA include employers, learners, providers, trade unions, government departments and bargaining councils from each economic sector.

5. How will I know what to do in order to comply with the requirements?

The CHIETA will send you all the information you need, including the requirements and timetable for action by you. You will be supplied with contact details of employees of the SETA who are available to help you maximise the benefits of your participation.

6. Are any employers exempt from paying the levy?

Yes. The exemptions are applicable if certain provisions are met. Application for such exemptions are contained in the SDL 101 form, issued by the Commissioner of SARS, who will ultimately adjudicate whether you qualify for exemption or not.

7. To whom are levies payable?

Levies are payable to the South African Revenue Service, which acts as a collecting ‘agency for the Department of Labour and the SETA’s.

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8. How are levies payable?

Each month SARS will provide all registered employers with a "Return for Remittance" form (SDL 201), which enables you to calculate the amount payable and effect payment.

9. What amount is payable?

The amount payable will be calculated as follows:

• From 1 April 2001 onwards - 1% of the total amount of remuneration paid to employees. Any prescribed exclusions that are not leviable are subtracted from the total remuneration.

10. By when is the levy payable?

The levy must be paid over to SARS (after registration), not later than SEVEN days after the end of the month in respect of which the levy is payable, under cover of a SDL 201 return form.

11. Is there any interest and penalty incurred for late or non-payment?

 SARS will impose both interest and penalties for late or non-payment of levies.

12. When will the ETQA be ready to start receiving applications for accreditation from providers?

The CHIETA ETQA has been receiving applications for accreditation from June 2001. To ensure efficient service, the ETQA structured submission dates for providers. These dates are 31 June 2002, 30 August 2002, 31 October 2002. Providers may however submit applications as soon as they are ready.

13. How do I register as a Skills Development Facilitator with the Chemical Industries Education and Training Athourity.

You can use the online Skills Development Facilitator registration form available under the Facilitators (SDF) section of this web-site or contact your regional co-ordinator. Your registration will be acknowledged as soon as it is processed.

14. Who can I contact at the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority if I am having difficulty with my Workplace Skills Plans?

Email Louis dos Santos on idossantos@chieta.org.za or phone on (011) 726-4026 ext 228

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15. What is the deadline for the Workplace Skills Plans?

• Year two: April 2001 to March 2002 - Deadline 31 March 2002.
• Year three: April 2002 and March 2003 - Deadline 31 July 2002.

This does not mean that you do not need to submit your skills plans if you have missed the deadline. It is still important to submit the plan in order to qualify for grants.

16. Why is it necessary to provide proof of payment?

n order for the Seta to match the amounts with the figures that is given to the Seta from Department of Labour as well as to pick up any discrepancies on the Department of Labour system. The proof of payment is to be submitted when handing the Workplace Skills Plan.

17. What is proof of expenditure?

Proof of expenditure is very important when completing and submitting your Annual Training Report. Proof of expenditure relates to all training costs that the organization has spent on the employees of the company. If the training was done internally then the organization needs to submit all attendance registers but if the training was done by a training provider than all invoices are required.

18. What is the purpose of a Workplace Skills Plan?

There is interaction between management and employees as they start to discuss skills in the workplace. Skills as well as shortfalls are identified and discussed in the workplace.
Management starts to discuss the companies' goals with employees who in turn commit to the process of achieving these goals. Management gets the opportunity to discover talent as well as skills that they did know that they had.

19. What is an Annual Training Report?

Basically this report consists of all attendance registers, proof of expenditure, training provider used in this report the SETA can establish whether training was done or is in the process of being done. This report will allow the SETA to compensate the employer for money spent when implementing the Workplace Skills Plan for the training that you have funded for your staff.

20. Why is it important to use an accredited training provider?

It is important to use an accredited training provider because it enables the SETA to establish that the training provider used is not a "FLY BY NIGHT" training provider but instead it is a recognized training provider, with recognized standards.

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21. Does one get 50% of monies spent on training?

NO this is where the misconception lies the organization will be refunded on 50% of all monies contributed towards skills development levy and not on monies spent on training.

22. How long does it take for a company to be transferred from one SETA to another?

The transfer can take place between 2 weeks and 2 months depending on the Department of Labour.

23. How does all grant monies received benefit the organization?

The employer to increase the competency level as well as to up-skill the staff in the organization making the organization a force to be reckoned with it it's particular industry will use monies received from grants.

24. What are the requirements for claiming back Discretionary Grants?

Each funding window has a different set of rules, which will be communicated to companies and included in the next Chemical SETA update for further details, please contact your chamber manager.

25. Must internal training departments also be accredited by the ETQA?

Yes, if the company intends to claim back for the training provided.

26. For which different kinds of registered providers can the organisation make a claim for training completed?

There are for kinds of recognised providers for which claims will be recognised;

• Internal education and training providers, such as human resources or training and development departments.
• External education and training providers, such as training companies and consultancies.
• Education Training Quality Assurance providers, who will be responsible for assessing the quality of training, as well as the moderation of learnerships and qualifications.
• RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) providers, who will be responsible for assessing and moderating applications for qualifications based on prior learning.

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27. What is the difference between an external provider and a vendor?

A vendor is contracted by a provider to provide training and can be considered as a member of the provider organisation's non-permanent staff.

The provider organisation is responsible and accountable for all aspects of training and quality management.

A vendor is therefore is accountable to the ETQA and does not have to register as a provider, whereas an external provider has to fulfil the stipulated requirements in the same way that internal providers do.

28. Why is it important for a company to use ETQA accredited and/or registered providers?

According to the Skills Development Act organisations will only be able to claim grants on the basis of NQF registered unit standards and qualifications. While there may be a grace period while the SETA’s and SAQA get established, in future, organisations will only be able to register claims if they make use of accredited and/or registered providers.

29. Does this mean that employers will not be able to claim for employees sent overseas for training?

Any training towards unit standards and qualifications will be eligible. Training not associated with credits for unit standards and towards qualifications will not be eligible for grant funds.

30. How will workplace assessment be conducted if an organisation uses only external providers?

Organisations will have to ensure that adequate provision is made for the capacity to conduct assessment when external providers are employed to do training in organisations. The external provider will have to assume full accountability for all aspects of training including that of quality assurance.

31. How do I know which ETQA I should use to accredit my Training Programmes?

SAQA's organising principle for the provider to ETQA relationship is a simple one-to-one relation. Namely, that the provider is accredited by one ETQA on the basis of primary focus.

The first issue to be decided would be which ETQA sector the provider falls within and then which are the NQF registered standards or qualifications that it wishes to provide. This should indicate the ETQA to which the provider should apply. There may be some instances in which the indication is not clear as it should be. The provider is then advised to approach SAQA for further guidance. Providers should note that even if they are multi-purpose providers for a range of standards and qualifications in different areas of learning, there will probably be a number of ETQAs involved in the ongoing accreditation and quality assurance of the institution, particularly in relation to the different learning programmes, courses and assessments on offer. To all intents and purposes this multiplicity of relations will not impact on the provider in that the accrediting primary focus ETQA will take the responsibility for organising the necessary evaluations and even site visits with all relevant parties.

If the majority of my learning Programmes (my primary focus) fall within the scope of the Chemical SETA ETQA, but some programmes fall within the scope of other ETQAs do I need to apply to the other relevant ETQAs as well to get all my programmes accredited?

If your primary business focus falls within the scope of the Chemical SETA ETQA it is our responsibility to take the training programmes that do not fall within our primary focus to the relevant ETQA to be accredited. We will sign an MOU with other SETA's in the event of this occurrence and will ensure that the responsible authorities thus accredit the training courses. Please note one Training Provider, one ETQA.

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32. What is the Accreditation Process?

The first step in the accreditation process is the completion of a letter of intent that is submitted to the ETQA body. This is a one-page document that covers aspects such as contact details, the type and form of the training programmes and the titles of the training courses that are offered. This will be looked at to ascertain whether the majority of the education and training provision does indeed fall within the Chemical SETA.

You will then receive a letter of confirmation of receipt of your letter of intent, and your details will be captured onto our database, after which you will receive the Application for Accreditation Documents that you will need to complete and return to us.

The application is then recorded and an initial check for compliance conducted, after which an investigation team is tasked to assess and evaluate the application. The assessment includes staff accreditation and a site visit. The SETQAA's intent to accredit the provider is published on the Chemical SETA website for Chemical SETA stakeholder comment.

Should the Accreditation be granted, Chemical SETA would issue a certificate to that effect.

33. Where could I find guidelines or Legislation to guide me through the application documentation?

The Services SETQA Application for Accreditation Documentation was developed and designed according to SAQA regulations and requirements. It would be advisable that you familiarise yourself with the relevant legislation, as it will simplify the process. Websites that will be able to assist you with the completion of the documentation are: www.saqa.org.za. (Click on publications, then on the left-hand side, the second last link, Guidelines and Criteria for providers) and the Service SETA website www.serviceseta.org.za

34. What do I present to my clients as proof that I am in the process of becoming accredited?

At this moment the only documentation Chemical SETA can provide with regard to proof of a company going through the accreditation process is the confirmation of the receipt of the letter of intent, the confirmation of receipt of application for accreditation letter, confirmation of compliance letter, confirmation letter that provider is in the evaluation for quality phase and the confirmation letter of application to serve in front of ETQA Committee for ratification. It should be noted that providers who only have submitted letters of intent to be accredited means that no evaluation has yet taken place. For this reason the Chemical SETA is willing to confirm that the provider has applied and is in the process of accreditation.

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35. What will this process cost me?

To date there has been no clear directive from SAQA or the Director General regarding the fee structure that ETQAs may charge for accreditation activities.

The Chemical SETA has therefore taken the decision to not to charge for any accreditation activities at this stage.

However should the Chemical SETA receive a directive from the necessary authorities to the effect that we may levy a charge for these activities, the Chemical SETA reserves the right to do so.

36. If I only want to be accredited as a training centre, do I need to complete all the documentation in the ETQA file?

Yes, all the documentation including the self-evaluation questionnaire need to be completed.

37. If I decide to develop more courses or diversify after I have been accredited, do I need to go through the whole process again?

Should you decide to diversify at a later stage, you need only apply for an extension of accreditation for those courses you wish to add.

Should the extension means that another ETQA must get involved, the primary focus ETQA will still manage and administer the extension of accreditation, but will establish a framework for collaboration with the secondary ETQA.

38. What does provisional accreditation mean?

Provisional accreditation means that the provider meets the eight core criteria as specified by SAQA in the document "Quality Management Systems for Education and Training Providers". It also means that the learning programmes are aligned to NQF registered qualifications and unit standards.

39. What does interim registration mean?

Interim registration means the provider meets the eight core criteria as specified by SAQA in the document "Quality Management Systems for Education and Training Providers". In the absence of NQF registered standards the learning programme(s) is outcomes based designed.

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40. What does "not yet recommended" mean?

Not yet recommended means that the provider does not meet the eight core criteria as specified by SAQA in the document "Quality Management Systems for Education and Training Providers" and/or the programmes are not outcomes based or aligned to NQF unit standards.

41. What will happen to my business if it is found to be "not yet recommended"?

The Chemical SETA ETQA is committed towards the development of Providers and therefor companies (who are paying their skills levies to the Chemical SETA) utilizing the education and training services of Providers who are not yet recommended for accreditation and/or registration may still claim grants from the Chemical SETA during the four month remediation period a provider has to remediate its application.

42. What can I do if I need help with my application for accreditation?

To help providers understand the application for accreditation documentation, the SETQAA has trained a group of consultants (internal and external) who will sit with providers at their premises for a maximum of two hours to answer questions. The consultant will not complete the documentation for the provider, but will assist the provider in understanding the requirements of the SETQAA. There is no fee charged to the provider.

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Organisational Structure and Functions

1. What do SAQA staff do at SAQA?

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which came into being through the promulgation of the SAQA Act (RSA, 1995), is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the NQF.

Recognition of Prior Learning

2. Why do we do RPL?

Here are some of the reasons why RPL is done:

• To redress the historical disadvantages like exclusion of many people from education and training because of regulations used by institutions, exclusion from certain jobs of certain population groups, etc.
• To validate people’s skills and knowledge§ For broader development of individuals
• To facilitate access to jobs and progression in career paths
• For recognition in terms of grading and pay/salary
• For planning through skills audits
• To promote employment equity

3. If I cannot speak English, can I go for RPL?

Yes you can, depending on the requirements of the qualification or unit standards you want recognition for. The RPL policy states that :

"In some instances, training needs to include an explicit component on language bias, where language may become a hindrance to assessment. Particularly where candidates make use of "colloquialism" for work processes, equipment and tools. Where demonstration of skills does not require formal language skills, assessors have to be sensitive to the use of words and terms common within a particular context".

4. How does RPL assessment differ from the other general assessment?

General assessment has got the formative and summative components. With RPL assessment, it is mostly the summative component with formative done only to a learner where further action is taken after the advisory session. When assessing candidates for RPL, they are assessed against the same Unit standards and exit level outcomes of qualifications using the same assessment criteria as for other full time learners. What is demanded of a full time learner has to be met fully by an RPL learner during assessment.

Assessment of RPL learners can be on a one to one basis or even on group basis just like full time learners. If 50% is demanded as a pass mark for full time learners, the same should apply for RPL learners.

Certificates obtained through RPL should be the same as those obtained through full time learning so as to prevent discrimination of the RPL learners. However, recording of RPL learners and their achievements should be kept by the respective ETQAs and providers involved. This will help track the success or failure of RPL implementation in South Africa.

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5. In the absence of providers ready to implement RPL what do we do with learners wanting RPL now?

Depending on what these learners want RPL for and also the level at which they want to be assessed, learners can be referred to centres already implementing RPL such as Construction SETA, UNISA, U.O.F.S. for help. Assessment centres such as Olifantsfontein are being developed. These will help learners with RPL assessments.

Accreditation of Providers

6. Can I be accredited as a provider if I only offer courses of less than six months’ duration?

Providers are accredited to offer learning programmes against specific standards and qualifications. A course does not necessarily equal a qualification. A course may address the needs of certain standards that are parts of a qualification. The "shortest" qualification registrable on the National Qualifications Framework is a certificate, which in terms of the NSB Regulations (RSA, 1998b) must consist of a minimum of 120 credits (a credit being equivalent to ten notional hours of learning). Since notional time is merely a convenient measurement for determining the average length of time the average learner supposedly takes to complete a unit of learning, however, one should not equate notional time with real time to suggest - as some have done - that a qualification of 120 credits will take one year to achieve. Indeed, in an outcomes-based education and training system it is learner readiness only that should determine when assessment occurs, and hence the length of the learning programme leading to the award of the qualification.

The short answer to the question, "Can I be accredited as a provider if I only offer courses of less than six months’ duration?" is:

Yes, you can, provided that you as a provider satisfy the ETQA that has accredited you of your capacity to offer a learning programme that meets the criteria for quality built into the qualification. If one is offering a learning programme against a qualification or part of a qualification, i.e. standards, registered on the NQF, the length of time devoted to its delivery is immaterial - provided

7. What does regulation 3(2)(g) of the ETQA Regulations mean?

3(2)(g) - An organization seeking accreditation as an Education and Training Quality Assurance Body shall demonstrate that "the function of external quality assurance is separate from and independent of the function of provision of education and training"

Regulation 3(2)(g) of the ETQA Regulations (RSA, 1998a) means that an organization cannot be both a provider and an ETQA at the same time. For instance, an organization such as the Institute for Marketing Management (IMM) that presently provides education and training programmes, examines, and awards qualifications and certificates would not be able to be accredited as an ETQA for IMM qualifications and certificates. It would only be accredited as such when it terminated the function of providing education and training. This means that it would then be eligible to apply for accreditation as an ETQA for other organizations that provide the appropriate education and training.

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8. Can a non-registered provider that wishes to be accredited as a provider of education and training in terms of regulation 13(a) of the ETQA Regulations apply to be registered with the ETQA from which it seeks accreditation prior to seeking such accreditation?

ETQAs accredit providers - they do not register providers. The Department of Education, under the Schools Act of 1996, HET Act of 1997 and FET Act of 1998, registers providers. According to these acts all providers, public and private, providing education and training in the three bands – GET, FET and HET - must be registered. This regulation therefore says that, registration as a provider must be with the Department of Education in terms of the relevant Act, and accreditation to offer specific national qualifications must be with the appropriate accredited ETQA.

9. Do all private schools and further education and training establishments have to be registered and accredited to provide education and training?

Yes, all private schools and further education and training establishments have to be accredited by the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Body (GENFETQA) as soon as it is established and be registered by the Department of Education.

10. Will any action be taken against schools that are not registered and/or accredited?

The rationale for the policy of registration and accreditation is to have a public register that informs the public of which institutions are legal and have an acceptable quality management and assurance system for the education and training they are providing. Institutions that are accredited and registered will be obliged to display their registration and accreditation certificates. As the register of registered and accredited institutions will be public, the public will be in a position to ascertain the status of an institution before registering as learners.

11. What are providers supposed to do while ETQAs are not yet accredited and yet learners need to enroll with accredited providers?

Currently 30 ETQAs (SETAs and some professional bodies) are already accredited and they will start accrediting their respective providers. The providers are in the meantime continuing with their respective functions of provision and are supposed to contact the ETQAs with which they share the primary focus in order to be brought up to speed with accreditation arrangements.

12. Are consultants and Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) supposed to meet the generic criteria for accreditation as education and training providers or are there special criteria for them since they are not institution based providers?

All types of education and training providers should meet the generic criteria for accreditation. The criteria are broad requirements that need to be contextualized. In addition, a developmental approach should be adopted by ETQAs in the accreditation of providers.

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13. Does SAQA have a Quality Management System (QMS) that stakeholders can emulate?

SAQA does not prescribe a Quality Management System (QMS) model but has developed documents to guide the stakeholders on the minimum requirements for a QMS. These documents are called Quality Management Systems for ETQAs and Quality Management Systems for Providers (PDF). The Directorate Quality Assurance and Development is also involved in the printing process of these documents for further distribution.

14. Does SAQA sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ETQAs or is this an issue between ETQAs?

The purpose of an MOU is to make a formal written agreement in order to address the areas of common interest in terms of the primary focus between the parties affected by these areas. SAQA's role is to provide assistance where possible in order to ensure that the ETQA functions are carried out efficiently and smoothly. SAQA oversees the process of developing MOU and does not sign an MOU with ETQAs. 

Assessment

15. Does SAQA provide guidelines on the ideal relationship between formative and summative assessment in an integrated assessment system?

SAQA has developed guidelines for assessment which are contained in the documents entitled: Criteria and Guidelines for the Assessment of NQF Registered Standards and Qualifications and the Criteria and Guidelines for the Registration of Assessors. The ideal relationship between formative and summative assessment has to be considered within the notion of continuous assessment and an understanding of the difference in purpose of formative and summative assessment. Continuous assessment embraces both formative and summative assessment. The NQF system allows for both types of assessment to be administered on a continuous basis over the course of a structured learning experience. For more information, refer particularly to the Criteria and Guidelines for the Assessment of NQF Registered Standards and Qualifications document.

16. What do I do if I want to be registered as an assessor?

You have to undergo training on the generic assessor unit standard with a provider that is registered/accredited by the ETDP SETA. If you are an assessor at present, you only need to be assessed for competence on the generic assessor unit standard by the ETDP SETA.

17. Do teachers have to be certificated and registered as assessors?

Yes, as stipulated in the Criteria and Guidelines for the Registration of Assessors, everyone who assesses learning should be certificated by the ETDP SETA and registered by the relevant ETQA in each sector.

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18. How do I know which ETQA should I be registered with once I have been trained as an assessor?

You can contact SAQA to find out which SETA you belong to; it will probably be the SETA that your company is registered with and paying levy to. 

Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA)

19. What is a SETA?

A Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) is a body established under the Skills Development Act (RSA, 1998c) whose main purpose is to contribute to the improvement of skills in South Africa through achieving a more favourable balance between demand and supply, and by ensuring that education and training

• acknowledges and enhances the skills of the current work force, (in addition to ensuring that new entrants to the labour market are adequately trained)
• meets agreed standards within a national framework
• is provided subject to validation and quality assurance; and
• where appropriate, is benchmarked against international standards (NTB, 1999).

The full list of SETA functions is contained in the Skills Development Act (RSA, 1998c). Those which affect SAQA's work most directly are that SETAs

• are accredited by SAQA as ETQAs within the economic sector (distinguished in Regulation 2(3) of the ETQA Regulations (RSA, 1998a) from the education & training sector and the social sector), and therefore fulfil all the functions of ETQAs as set out in Regulation 9 (RSA, 1998a) ; and
• monitor education and training in the sector.
  

Centre for Evaluation of Education Qualifications

20. What must I do to have my foreign (non-South African) qualifications evaluated? What is the cost involved? How long does it take?

Application guidelines (PDF) include the following information:

• What we need to do an evaluation (contact information, documentation and payment)
• When evaluation results can be expected
• Other important notes on the evaluation procedure

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21. What are the criteria applied for evaluation of foreign qualification

The evaluation of foreign qualifications follows international practice as agreed to by countries in the European region and which is outlined in the Lisbon Convention of 1997.

Evaluations aim to determine the "local currency" of foreign qualifications. The evaluation procedure is based mainly on the structural analysis of foreign education systems and the attributes of qualifications obtained in these, compared to the South African context in terms of indicators such as –

• status of the awarding institution in the country of origin
• purpose of study
• admission requirements
• duration and mode of study
• credit weighting
• course composition and requirements
• learning outcomes as indicated by the professional and/or academic status of the qualification holder

SAQA evaluations offer general placement recommendations, which should preferably be supplemented by purpose-specific assessments.

22. What is the legal status of these evaluations?

The evaluation of foreign qualifications used to be assigned to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in the HSRC Act, Act 23 of 1968. The function was transferred to the South African Qualifications Authority as a going concern with effect from 1 July 1999. The service is fully operational, but since it is relatively new to SAQA and the NQF environment, it is still in the process of being fully aligned with NQF principles and best international benchmarking practices as from the perspective of a qualifications framework.

The recommendations made on certificates of evaluation are advisory in nature and not prescriptive or binding on other institutions.

23. What is the CEEQ’s actual role regarding admission of prospective students at South African institutions of learning, professional registration in regulated professions or employment?

CEEQ’s role is to advise on the appropriate levels of recognition of foreign qualifications, as determined according to specific criteria outlined above. Since this does not entail an in-depth comparison of content (curricula, projects, research reports) in specific areas of specialisation, or the establishment of learning outcomes in the sense of actual knowledge and competency, it is necessary that providers, professional bodies and employers accept a partnership role in furthering the assessment according to internal criteria for the specific context. This may warrant an adaptation of the recommended placement and require support in terms of upgrading that may be necessary, as well as the monitoring of progress. Feedback to SAQA about the appropriateness of the initial evaluation is seen as crucial information and is therefore invited.

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24. I need my South African qualifications evaluated for study / work purposes abroad. What must I do?

Recognition of South African qualifications in foreign countries is the prerogative of credential evaluating agencies in the host countries. Evaluations for the abovementioned purposes will therefore only convey information on the qualifications in question, within the South African context and not in relation to a qualification in the host country, in order to assist foreign evaluating bodies without prescription. For this service, offered by the Centre for Evaluation of Educational Qualifications (CEEQ), normal application procedure (PDF) applies.

The contact details of overseas evaluating agencies can also be provided by the CEEQ.

25. What is SAQA’s position in terms of the HSRC ratings accorded by the CEEQ to private education and training programmes during the nineties?

In the early nineties the Centre for Evaluation of Qualifications (CEEQ), then residing with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), initiated the co-ordination of the evaluation of specific courses (not institutions). The aim of this exercise was to compare the content of courses with the content of courses offered in the formal sector, following which the CEEQ recommended particular levels of recognition according to the existing formal framework of that period. These were mostly expressed in terms of year levels of study after completion of the Senior Certificate (the so-called "M+…" system, which is being phased out alongside the phasing in of the eight outcomes-based levels of the National Qualifications Framework).

The aim of the Directory of HSRC-rated courses offered in the private education and training sector was to give an overview of the HSRC rating accorded for a specific period of time only, on the basis of formal applications, the completion of the evaluation process, and the resultant evaluation outcomes according to the series of specific steps. Ratings contained in this publication should therefore not be seen as an alternative to the accreditation process currently overseen by SAQA and the status of programmes and/or institutions as determined accordingly.

26. I want to have South African qualifications (national or private) evaluated and the "M+" rating determined. How can SAQA help me?

The core function of SAQA is to oversee the development and implementation of a National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which will, inter alia, facilitate the registration of all South African qualification onto eight levels of education and training. This process accounts for learning outcomes and is not compatible with a time-based system such as the "M+" system.

Interim Registration of Existing Qualifications

27. What is interim registration? How long will this process be in effect?

Interim registration was a mechanism for ensuring that all existing qualifications offered in the country be placed on a register for a five year period. It also allowed providers to place their existing qualifications in an outcomes-based format on the NQF. Interim registration started in June 1998 and has ended on 30 June 2003.

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28. When will CHIETA Skills Advisors be made available?

This highly successful intervention will be available again for the period of Year 4 (1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004). FSAs will telephone and visit SMME employers (i.e. employers employing 50 or fewer staff) and assist them to complete the Year 3 Workplace Skills Plan Implementation Grant (WSPIG) due 31 May 2003 and the Year 4 Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) due 30 June 2003. This intervention will be available from 1 April 2003 and will end on 31 March 2004. Please note that the FSAs are assisting with the completion of the Year 3 Strategic Cash Grant (SCG). New employers to CHIETA may request an FSA over the course of the financial year, but will be required to request permission for a late grant application submission from CHIETA.

Employers will be given an opportunity from 1 April 2003 to mid July 2003 to make use of FSAs. Thereafter FSAs will only be available to newly registered employers with CHIETA on an ad hoc basis. Requests for FSAs must be made by logging a request with the CHIETA call centre 086 101 0001.

29. What do I do if I would like someone to come and help me with my grant submission?

CHIETA makes use of CHIETA Skills Advisors (FSAs). These are regionally based (Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal) advisors who CHIETA has appointed to assist employers with the completion of their grant submissions (Workplace Skills Plan and Workplace Skills Plan Implementation Grant only) and the registration of the Skills Development Facilitators.

30. We are a new management consulting firm, offering in house training to our clients, in all industry sectors. The trainees will be selected by our client for training purposes and will follow lengthy training. Please let me know how we go about ensuring that our clients are eligible to participate in the seta program and thereby recoup some of the expenses involved in the training offered.

The SETAs work on a levy grant system. This means that companies must register for and pay their Skills Development Levy to the South African Revenue Services. SARS then allocates this money (via the Department of Labour) to each of the 25 SETAs according to the SETA that each specific company has registered with. The company would choose to register with the SETA whose scope covers their main business activity. Your organisation, for example, is a management consulting business that does in-house training. If your main business is the consulting, you would register with us, CHIETA, which is the SETA for Finance, Accounting, Management Consulting and Other Financial services. The same applies if your main business can be classified as Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation n.e.c, which is another area which falls within CHIETA's scope. If your main business activity is training, you would register with the Education, Training and Development SETA (ETDP).

Once registered, the company then pays 1% of their payroll as a levy. Against this they may claim two mandatory grants. The first grant (15% of the levy amount) is paid for the submission of a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and the second grant (45% of the levy amount) is for the submission of an Implementation Report (WSPIG) on the training completed. Each SETA has a specific format for the claim forms, depending on the needs of their sector. Each SETA may then offer specific additional incentives, in the form of discretionary grants or anything else, again determined by the needs of their sector. CHIETA, for example, will not re-imburse firms directly for training done, but offers a specific discretionary grant (over and above the two mandatory grants), as well as a number of specific services such as free continuous professional education workshops and assessor training.

Most SETAs will only support training that is provided by an accredited provider, so you would also need to ensure that your organisation is accredited for the training that it provides. The SETA that accredits this training will depend on the scope of the content of the training that you do.

CHIETA's website has a section called "Getting Started" that will further explain the processes of registering, claiming and participating. This document will also refer the reader to the specific relevant sections of the website where more detailed information can be found. Please remember that many of the items in this document are specific to CHIETA and that each SETA would have their own deadlines, grants and support processes, so each of your clients should contact their relevant SETA directly. 

Please also refer to the Management Consulting Learnership Section of this website.

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31. Please define / explain Investment Entities and Trusts

Trusts - A business entity that is different from other business entities, for example companies, partnerships etc, and has different tax structures to other business entities (the tax rules applying to trusts have changed this year). A trust may not administer itself and needs external administration in terms of relevant legislation, and must have a set of audited financial statements. Those registering under the SIC Code Investment Entities and Trusts (81904) are responsible for administering trusts and these administrative persons would be financial people such as accountants, bookkeepers, etc. Those registering under this SIC code should be aware that the trust itself, i.e. the business entity does not fall under CHIETA, rather the entity that is administering the trust falls under CHIETA. For example, Deloitte and Touché have a special division that administers trusts. This division would register with CHIETA and pay their Skills Development Levy to CHIETA. The SIC code explanation could be read as or rephrased as : 81904 Investment Entities and Administration of Trusts.

32. Why should small employers participate in CHIETA?

It is very simple for employers to claim back 15% of their skills development levy paid to SARS if they complete a training plan (WSP) and submit this to CHIETA in the prescribed format. If the WSP is accepted by CHIETA, employers may apply to claim back an additional 45% of their skills levy paid to SARS by providing CHIETA with a training report in the prescribed format. This means that the employer may claim back 60% for a training plan and a training report. In addition to this, employers may claim back 10% of their skills development levy paid to SARS as a discretionary cash grant if they are training in strategic areas.

The accepted WSP is a requirement for involvement in other CHIETA interventions for this year (1 April 2002 to 31 March 2002) such as:

• Free Continuous Professional Education (CPE). CHIETA hosted Capital Gains Tax seminars nationwide in October/November 2001 and plans to run additional seminars in 2002. 
• Access to special grants.
• Certain categories of special project funding.

Employers may also get involved in other interventions CHIETA is undertaking

• Free Assessor Training.
• Free assistance in completing WSP.
• Piloting of learnerships.
• Special project funding.

The submission of WSP is a requirement for access to other grants such a free training. All that is required is for employers to submit a training plan and a training report in order to access the financial benefits outlined above. Planning for training is good business practice!

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33. Who should register with CHIETA?

If any of the legal entities in your organisation have the following as its core business, then it needs to register with this SETA:

• Investment entities and trusts
• Administration of financial markets
• Security dealing activities
• Stock broking activities
• Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation n.e.c
• Tax services
• Asset portfolio management
• Company secretarial services
• Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy
• Activities of accountants and auditors registered in terms of the Public Accountants Act
• Activities of cost and management accountants
• Bookkeeping activities, including relevant data processing and tabulation activities
• Business and management consultancy activities
• South African Revenue Services (SARS)

If your organization or one of its legal entities is registered with CHIETA but does not have one of the above as its core area of business, you should transfer to the correct SETA and an inter-Seta transfer form can be found here.

34. How can I get involved with the CHIETA and make a contribution?

You can become a member of one of the working committees:

• Learnerships - Develop, implement and monitor learnerships.
• Quality Assurance - Establish and monitor the implementation of a quality management system. Monitor the development of new standards or qualifications or modifications to existing standards or qualifications and recommend such standards or qualifications to NSB's and SAQA.
• Skills Plan - Assess education and training provision in the sector and identify deficiencies. Determine education and training priorities for the sector. Monitor the implementation of Workplace Skills Plans.
• Marketing Communication - communicate and promote CHIETA's activities and objectives to all stakeholders.

35. Are you a governmental organisation or a private organization with which we must be affiliated?

We are not a private organization as CHIETA was established in terms of the Skills Development Act of 1998. Levies are collected by the SARS and then the proportional share is transferred to CHIETA.

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36. What is an SMME?

SMME is an acronym that stands for Small Medium and Micro Enterprise and in the financial services sector refers to employers employing no more than 50 employees.

The definition, according to the National Small Business Act (102 of 1996), broadly refers to:

• Micro - between 1 and 5 employees
• Very Small - no more than 10 employees
• Small - no more than 50 employees
• Medium - no more than 100 employees
• Large - 101 + employees

37. How do state organisations benefit from registering with CHIETA?

The administrative portion that state departments pay to relevant SETAs will allow them to benefit from a number of SETA activities. In the case of CHIETA, state departments contributing towards the administrative budget of CHIETA may make use of the following benefits:

• CHIETA's role in the development of skills programmes
• CHIETA's role in the registration of learnerships
• CHIETA's role in the registration of skills programmes
• Access to CHIETA's discretionary cash grants
• ETQA functions

• Accreditation of Constituent Providers
• Quality Promotion
• Monitoring, Assessing and Moderating
• Assessment and Assessment systems
• Certification

38. I am an SMME and do not plan for my training at the beginning of the year. Do I have to complete a Workplace Skills Plan and am I entitled to claim the Workplace Skills Plan training grant for training done during the year even if I have not submitted a Workplace Skills Plan to CHIETA?

All employers are required to submit a Workplace Skills Plan to CHIETA if they you wish to claim the Workplace Skills Planning Grant. We insist on this for a number of reasons. Firstly, the regulations indicate that the submission of a Workplace Skills Plan is a requirement for the claiming of other grants. Secondly, one of the main aims of the Skills Development Act is to foster and develop a culture of planning for skills development and training in South Africa. Therefore all employers, big or small, are being encouraged to develop the habit of planning for training and development of their staff, and integrating this into their business and organizational development process. CHIETA will be glad to assist you with this process if you require it.

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39. I am a new company who wishes to register with CHIETA at SARS - what do I do?

All applications for registration with a SETA need to fall under the scope of coverage that the proposed SETA claimed. Those claims were classified using an extended coding system for industrial classifications. The draft of the scope and coverage of CHIETA is detailed on the CHIETA page of the Frequently Asked Questions section

As an employer, you do not have to launch an application for registration  with a particular SETA.

Early in February 2000, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) mailed out registration forms that required organizations to select their industrial sector and hence, the SETA which covered the main activity of your business. If you did not received a registration form, please contact SARS or CHIETA will assist you with the process of selecting the relevant code.

40. Can we receive the Act etc, in Afrikaans?

The legislation is not available in Afrikaans.

41. Why is it that Government Departments affiliated to the line function CHIETA are not allowed to claim for the Grant when we are paying the levy?

Government departments are only required to pay the 10% admin portion of the skills development levy (which is calculated as a percentage of 1% of Payroll spend). No employers are able to claim back on the admin portion of the money paid to the SETA as the SETA uses this 10% for administrative expenses.

Employers would pay 100% levy which is split up as follows :

• 10% goes to CHIETA for administrative expenses and is not reclaimable by the employer
• 20% goes to the National Skills Fund which will be utilised to achieve national skills objectives and may be claimed from the NSF as project funding
• 70% goes to CHIETA and is available for employers to claim back as grants. Government departments are only required to pay CHIETA the 10% admin portion and are thus not eligible to claim back any grant monies from this amount. However, they are eligible to apply for strategic cash grants from the SETA. Government departments have to budget for the full 1% of payroll. 10% is to be paid to the SETA for its administrative expenses while the 90% allocated in their budget is to be spent in line with the workplace skills plan and internal skills development initiatives within the government department. This procedure is the result of an inter-ministerial decision passed by cabinet.

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42. How do I decide where to register?

Look at the core business of each legal entity within your organisation. For example, one of your subsidiaries may be involved in manufacturing, another in agriculture and another in construction, while your holding company is largely involved in providing Financial Services to the Group. Register each legal entity with the relevant SETA.

• Financial and Accounting Services
• Banking
• Chemical Industries
• Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather
• Construction
• Diplomacy, Intelligence, Defense and Trade
• Education, Training and Development Practices
• Energy
• Food and Beverages Manufacturing Industry
• Forest Industries
• Health and Welfare
• Information Systems (IT), Electronics and Telecommunication Technologies
• Insurance
• Local Government ,Water and Related Services
• Media, Advertising, Publishing, Printing and Packaging
• Mining Qualifications
• Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services
• Police, Private Security, Legal and Correctional Services
• Primary Agriculture
• Public Service
• Secondary Agriculture
• Services
• Tourism and Hospitality
• Transport
• Wholesale and Retail

Further comprehensive information regarding SETAs can be found on the Department of Labour's SETA site - follow this quick link

43. How will I know what to do in order to comply with the requirements?

Your SETA will send you all the necessary information, including the requirements and timetable for action by you, as well contact details for assistance to ensure you receive the maximum benefit from the skills development, and CHIETA, initiatives.

44. How many SETAS are there ?

25 SETAS were established by the Department of Labour in March 2001.
Follow this link to the Department of Labour's SETA website for further information in this regard

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