SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Further Education and Training Certificate: Public Administration

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
57824	Further Education and Training Certificate: Public Administration
ORIGINATOR
SGB Public Administration and Management
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
PSETA - Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Further Ed and Training Cert	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Public Administration
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	146	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Regular-Unit Stds Based
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:

The purpose of the FETC: Public Administration is to provide a structured programme for public officials that work in support of senior management officials in providing for service delivery objectives. The need for well-qualified efficient, client-oriented public officials is therefore identified as a priority in all the three spheres of government. The FETC: Public Administration is aimed at practitioners working in the public sector. It is a qualification in a career pathway towards an accomplished public administration and management specialist.

The FETC: Public Administration consists of Exit Level Outcomes covering service delivery, applying public sector policy and legislation in their respective work contexts, identifying and solving problems, communications and administration. The competencies covered in the proposed unit standards encapsulate the competencies required by public officials working at the operational level and responsible for implementing specific service delivery objectives within a public sector departmental context. This qualification enables transferability of skills between the private and the public sector.

The possession of relevant knowledge, skills and attitude by public officials is crucial to the implementation of public sector administration and management reforms.
Qualifying learners should be able to follow various careers within the Public Sector's:

Financial Services

Administration

Management

Procurement and Supply Chain Management

Supervisory Administration

Rationale:

In South Africa public service officials operate in a wide variety of roles within the Public Administration and Management structures. Often they work in diverse operating and service delivery circumstances.
The strength of the democratic process in South Africa and developmental of good governance practices are strongly linked to capacity building within the three spheres of government - national, provincial and local.
The Certificate in Public Administration is a specialised Qualification which offers administrative knowledge and skills that contributes to service delivery in the public sector for learners who:

Have attained the National Certificate: Public Administration: Level 3 or any related administration, public administration or municipal administration and generic administration qualifications and wish to continue on a path of life-long learning within the Public Administration or related qualifications.

Have worked in Public Administration or Municipal Administration for many years, but have no formal Qualifications in their area of expertise.

Wish to extend their range of skills and knowledge of Public Administration so that they can become knowledgeable workers.

Are contracted in a learnership agreement.

Have recently taken up a position in Public Administration.

The Certificate in Public Administration: Level 4 is aiming at producing knowledgeable, multi-skilled workers who are able to contribute to improved productivity and efficiency within the public sector. It should provide the means for current workers to receive recognition of prior learning, to upgrade their skills and achieve a nationally recognised qualification. It should also assist new entrants to the public sector.

The Certificate at NQF Level 4 allows the learner to work towards a nationally recognised qualification.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

It is assumed that all learners accessing this qualification are competent in Communication at NQF Level 3, and Mathematical Literacy at NQF level 3.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The structure of this Unit Standard based Qualification makes the Recognition of Prior Learning possible. Learner and Assessor will jointly decide on methods to determine prior learning and competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in the Qualification and the associated Unit Standards. Recognition of Prior Learning will be done by means of an Integrated Assessment as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

This Recognition of Prior Learning may allow for:

Accelerated access to further learning at this or higher levels on the NQF.

Gaining of credits towards a Unit Standard in this Qualification.

Obtaining this Qualification in whole or in part.

All recognition of Prior Learning is subject to quality assurance by the relevant ETQA or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.

Access to the qualification

Access to this Qualification is open, bearing in mind the Learning Assumed to be in Place itemised below. It is recommended that learners are competent in the Qualification - National Certificate in Public Administrative Services: Level 3 or Generic Administration: Level 3 or equivalent before accessing this Qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

The Qualification consists of a Fundamental, a Core and an Elective Component.

To be awarded the Qualification, learners are required to obtain a minimum of 146 credits as detailed below.

Fundamental Component:

The Fundamental Component consists of Unit Standards in:

Mathematical Literacy at Level 4 to the value of 16 credits.

Communication at Level 4 in a First South African Language to the value of 20 credits.

Communication in a Second South African Language at Level 3 to the value of 20 credits.

It is compulsory therefore for learners to do Communication in two different South African languages, one at Level 4 and the other at Level 3.

All Unit Standards in the Fundamental Component are compulsory.

Core Component:

The Core Component consists of Unit Standards to the value of 70 credits all of which are compulsory.

Elective Component:

The Elective Component consists of Unit Standards to the value of 88 credits. Learners are to choose Unit Standards to the minimum of 20 credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply public sector principles, policies and ethics to own public sector work context.
2. Apply the principles of good customer service in own public sector context.
3. Apply administrative principles in implementation of public sector procedures and work schedules.
4. Demonstrate an ability to apply the principles of problem identification and analysis.
5. Contribute towards team development in own public sector context.
6. Apply the principles of communication in own work context according to public sector communication protocol.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The public sector Batho Pele principles are applied to own work context.

The public sector code of conduct is interpreted and applied in relation to own work context.

The framework and overall mechanisms of government are applied in own work context.

Problems relating to public sector principles, policies and ethics as they relate to own work context are effectively resolved according to own departmental policy.

2.

The principles of communication are applied to customer service delivery in own work context with internal and external stakeholders.

Customer needs are identified.

Differentiations are made between good and bad service.

One's own role in the service delivery chain is defined with examples.

Service delivery improvements that contribute to the achievement of overall public sector objectives are implemented in line with overall departmental procedures and policies.

Difficult customers are dealt with in appropriate manner.

The principles of Batho Pele are applied in servicing customers.

3.

Administrative systems within a public sector are utlised to support service delivery.

An understanding of the procedures relating to compliance with public sector requirements is demonstrated with examples.

Administrative information is recorded and maintained in accordance with public sector policy and procedures.

The ability to maintain information at the required level of confidentiality is demonstrated at all times.

Filing and indexing of important documentation is maintained on an ongoing basis.

4.

An ability to locate problems is demonstrated within a wider public sector context.

An ability to perceive problem-solving as a process and manage problem-solving objectively is demonstrated in own work context.

Levels of authority and protocols relating to the resolution of problems is identified with examples.

Decisions are made in order to resolve problems and generate new ideas and solutions in order to contribute towards overall public sector objectives in accordance with assigned level of authority.

The basic principles of risk management are identified and applied to problem analysis and decision-making within own work context.

5.

Typical work teams within the public sector are identified and the mechanisms for how they operate in order to achieve the overall objectives of public sector initiatives are explained with examples.

Own contribution and role in team is identified in line with overall departmental delivery objectives.

An ability is demonstrated to accommodate the views of others.

The principles of good interpersonal relations in a team.

6.

Communication protocols prescribed within the public sector are identified and applied to own work context.

Key roleplayers that typically interact with public sector are identified and the principles of communication are applied for interacting with roleplayers.

The principles of diversity management are applied in order to achieve public sector objectives.

An ability to accommodate people with special needs is demonstrated in own work context.

The principles of conflict management and conflict resolution are applied within own work context.

Write, interpret and analyse public sector reports and correspondence in own work context.

Integrated Assessment:

Because assessment practices must be open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever, an integrated assessment approach is incorporated into the Qualification.

Learning, teaching and assessment are inextricably lined. Whenever possible, the assessment of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values shown in the unit standards should be integrated.

Assessment of the communication, language, literacy and numeracy should be conducted in conjunction with other aspects and should use authentic Public Service contexts wherever possible.

A variety of methods must be used in assessment and tools and activities must be appropriate to the context in which the learner is working. Where it is not possible to assess the learner in the workplace or on-the-job, simulations, case studies, role-plays and other similar techniques should be used to provide a context appropriate to the assessment.

The term 'Integrated Assessment' implies that theoretical and practical components should be assessed together. During integrated assessments the assessor should make use of formative and summative assessment methods and assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies.

Assessors and moderators should make use of a range of formative and summative assessment methods. Assessors should assess and give credit for the evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience.

Assessment should ensure that all specific outcomes, embedded knowledge and critical cross-field outcomes are evaluated. The assessment of the critical cross-field outcomes should be integrated with the assessment of specific outcomes and embedded knowledge.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The importance of management and administrative training within the public sector context is well articulated worldwide and Internet resources, materials and assistance on this topic are widely available. Resources were accessed in Australia, Scotland, the United Kingdom and in a large number of states in the USA.

Our research showed that the qualifications related to Public Administration tend to be at Post Graduate Level - a Master in Public Administration type qualification. There were fewer qualifications at the graduate level and very little at a level that would equate to South Africa's NQF Level 4.

In this regard, South Africa is somewhat of a pioneer although even developed countries are waking to the fact that career civil servants might be lacking in qualifications.

United Kingdom

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority of the United Kingdom (http://www.qca.org.uk/), and a search of the open qualifications database (http://www.openquals.org.uk/) could not find any relevant qualifications or unit standards pertaining to Public Administration or Management itself.

While the universities of the United Kingdom provide MPA (Master of Public Administration) degrees there are few qualifications at an under graduate level. In this regard the prospectuses of the Open University and Manchester University were consulted.

Of interest is the fact that the United Kingdom has recently transformed their Civil Service College into a National School of Government with a competencies based curriculum. This is part of an ongoing initiative in the United Kingdom called the PSG (Professional Skills for Government). This program intends over the next few years to assess individuals for skill gaps in core competency areas and to fill these gaps. As part of PSG, everyone working in the public sector will be expected to have the professional skills and experience needed to do their job well.

Core skills that every civil servant at or aspiring to Grade 7 (or equivalent) and above needs.

At Grade 7 level these are:

People Management

Financial Management

Programme and Project Management

Analysis and use of evidence

In addition, those in or aspiring to the SCS will also need to demonstrate skills in:

Strategic thinking

Communications and marketing

The level of this qualification differs from the South African FETC. Level 4 type qualifications in the United Kingdom (and elsewhere) appear to come from generic qualifications that supply the commercial world with business administrators and clerical workers.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (http://www.kiwiquals.govt.nz/) has a Diploma in Local Government and administration at NQF (NZ) level 8 worth 120 credits. This again is above South Africa's NQF 4 - noting comparable could be found.

Australia

The Australian Qualifications Framework (http://www.aqf.edu.au/) and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (http://www.nqai.ie/cgi-bin/search) failed to reveal any specific qualification, similar to this qualification. On the other hand qualifications at the diplomas and degrees levels public administration and management are available on the various university websites.

These diplomas and degrees are comparable to this qualification, but they are at higher level an equivalent NQF level 6 or 7.

Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland

The Institute for Development Management (IDM) (http://www.idmbls.com) is a regional organisation in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (BLS) aiming to help these countries to meet the management needs of the Region through management development initiatives including training, consultancy, research, and the establishment of a Management Resource Centre. IDM offers a Certificate in Public Administration and Management. The course is 36 weeks long and aims to meet the need for continuous training and development in Public Sector.

Stated course outcomes include:

Use the computer in information management.

Demonstrate knowledge of numeric skills.

Demonstrate knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety.

Demonstrate knowledge of HIV/AIDS.

Communicate effectively in the workplace.

Demonstrate knowledge of the role and scope of Public Administration.

Demonstrate knowledge of decentralization and the role of local authorities in national development.

Apply basic principles of management in the workplace.

Demonstrate understanding of the various statutes which affect their day to day work.

Manage records and information in their organizations.

Demonstrate an understanding of basic principles of management.

Demonstrate an understanding of basic principles of economics.

Apply research methods by undertaking a work related project.

The course comprises the following modules:

Introduction to Public Admin

Local Government Administration and Management

Principles of Management

Legal Aspects of PA

Introduction to PC

Communication skills

Introduction to Financial Management

Introductory Economics

Occupational Health and Safety

Records Management

Numeric skills

HIV/AIDS Awareness

Basic Research Methods

No other certificate courses in Public Management and Administration could be found with an internet search. University graduate courses (Public Management or Administration) and post graduate course Master of Business Administration (MBA) course majoring in Public Management and Administration are naturally more comprehensive and framed at a higher level than NQF level 4 and are not within the scope of this purview. This FETC provides a reasonable selection of important topic areas commonly found in graduate and post graduate studies.

Conclusion

This certificate qualification compares well against similar certificate qualifications found in the SADC region.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This Qualification articulates vertically and horizontally with the following Qualifications:

The qualification articulates horizontally with:

Certificate in Business Administration: NQF Level 4, SAQA ID: 35928.

Municipal Finance and Administration: NQF Level 4, SAQA ID: 50372.

The qualification articulates vertically with:

Certificate in Public Sector Finance Administration and Management: NQF Level 5, SAQA ID: 16998.

Certificate in Public Administration and Management: NQF Level 5, SAQA ID: 17228.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this Qualification must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.

Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this Qualification must be accredited as a provider with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body.

Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or by an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the ETQA, according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.

Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the Qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual Unit Standards as well as the integrated competence described in the Qualification.

Anyone wishing to be assessed against this Qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

For an applicant to register as an assessor, the applicant needs:

A minimum of 2 (two) years' practical, relevant occupational experience in Administration.

To be declared competent in all the outcomes of the National Assessor Unit Standards as stipulated by South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

NOTES

N/A

UNIT STANDARDS:

	ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Core	113955	Apply the Batho Pele principles to own work role and context	Level 3	NQF Level 03	4
Core	113956	Demonstrate knowledge of and apply the Public Sector Code of Conduct in own work roles and context	Level 3	NQF Level 03	4
Core	242900	Apply administrative principles in the implementation of public sector procedures and work schedule	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Core	242901	Apply the principles of good customer service to achieve public sector objectives	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Core	242903	Define overall public sector culture and values and apply to own work context	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Core	242902	Demonstrate an ability to apply the principles of problem identification, analysis and decision-making within immediate work context	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Core	242880	Demonstrate an understanding and apply the framework and overall mechanics of government in public sector policy	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Core	119351	Apply principles of computerised systems to manage data and reports relevant to the public sector administration	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Core	120307	Apply South African legislation and policy affecting public administration	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Core	119334	Discuss the selected legislative regulatory framework governing the public sector management and administration environment	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	12
Fundamental	119472	Accommodate audience and context needs in oral/signed communication	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	119466	Interpret a variety of literary texts	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	119457	Interpret and use information from texts	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	119465	Write/present/sign texts for a range of communicative contexts	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	9015	Apply knowledge of statistics and probability to critically interrogate and effectively communicate findings on life related problems	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	119462	Engage in sustained oral/signed communication and evaluate spoken/signed texts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	119469	Read/view, analyse and respond to a variety of texts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	9016	Represent analyse and calculate shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional space in different contexts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Fundamental	7468	Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business, national and international issues	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	12153	Use the writing process to compose texts required in the business environment	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	119459	Write/present/sign for a wide range of contexts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Elective	120385	Apply a range of project management tools and techniques	Level 4	NQF Level 04	7
Elective	337060	Apply knowledge of organisation structure and design to support performance to a Public Sector Department	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Elective	337064	Apply knowledge of the job evaluation process in the Public Sector in order to ensure that a job has been properly evaluated	Level 4	NQF Level 04	3
Elective	243263	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of anti-corruption issues in the Public Sector	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Elective	337062	Evaluate a job in the Public Sector in South Africa	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Elective	11473	Manage individual and team performance	Level 4	NQF Level 04	8
Elective	242819	Motivate and Build a Team	Level 4	NQF Level 04	10
Elective	242861	Participate in budget and general financial management processes within own public sector work context	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Elective	242811	Prioritise time and work for self and team	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Elective	10981	Supervise work unit to achieve work unit objectives (individuals and teams)	Level 4	NQF Level 04	12
Elective	11273	Apply Fundamental Concepts of Supply Chain Management Optimisation	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	8
Elective	119345	Apply principles, regulations and legislation underlying supply chain management in the public sector	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	15
Elective	119346	Apply sound communication principles in the coordination of selected public sector communications programmes	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Elective	243264	Customise an anti-corruption strategy at operational level for a Public Sector Department	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	5
Elective	337061	Demonstrate knowledge and insight into a bid committee system applicable to an Organ of State in South Africa	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	15
Elective	337063	Demonstrate knowledge and insight into the principles of monitoring and evaluation in assessing organisation and/or programme performance in a specific context	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	5
Elective	120360	Demonstrate understanding of financial and accounting principles for public entities	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	12
Elective	119332	Manage and develop oneself in the public sector work environment	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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