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:

National Certificate: Rockbreaking for Underground Hard Rock Tabular Ore Bodies

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
21840	National Certificate: Rockbreaking for Underground Hard Rock Tabular Ore Bodies
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was MQA until Last Date for Achievement			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National Certificate	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Fabrication and Extraction
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	310	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"		SAQA 0742/02	2002-06-12	2004-04-07
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2005-04-07		2009-04-07

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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
49014	National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Underground Hard Rock	Level 3	NQF Level 03	130	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

This qualification is aimed at people who work or intend to work in underground rock breaking operations and seek recognition for the skills required for conducting blasting operations in a stoping or development (excluding shaft sinking and rock boring) environment.

Recipients of this qualification know about and are able to conduct the essential rock breaking activities associated with safe and efficient underground mining operations.

The qualification is designed to be flexible and accessible so that people are able to demonstrate the required competencies to work in a safe and effective manner in the underground environment.

Rationale

The majority of the candidates for this qualification are likely to be working in the mining and minerals sector. The qualification will give them the opportunity to balance their practical skills with the essential knowledge needed to earn a formal qualification in rock breaking operations. There is also a critical need in the industry to identify people who are able to demonstrate the required competencies for the safe and efficient blasting of rock and its associated activities in an underground environment.

Range statements

The unit standards provide the details of the ranges within which candidates are required to perform.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

It is assumed that candidates embarking on learning towards this qualification are already competent in the outcomes required for the National Certificate in Mining Operations for Underground Hard Rock - Tabular (Level 2).

Recognition of Prior Learning

This qualification can be achieved wholly or in part through recognition of prior learning in terms of the criteria laid out in "Exit level outcomes and rules of combination".

Evidence can be presented in a variety of forms, including international or previous local qualifications, reports, testimonials mentioning functions performed, work records, portfolios, videos of practice and performance records.

All such evidence should be judged according to the general principles of assessment described in the note to assessors in "Qualification Notes".

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is, in fact, based on unit standards. The table of unit standards will be added later.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

There are no exit level outcomes contained in this qualification.

Candidates for a National Certificate in Rock breaking for Underground Hard Rock Tabular (Level 3) must achieve the credits as per the following summary.

Fundamental:

18 Communications credits from the list specified below.

10 Mathematics credits from the list specified below.

15 Science credits from the list specified below.

Core:

All credits from the list of Unit Standards generic to Work / Life.

All credits from the list of Unit Standards generic to the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology (MET), the Mining and Minerals (M&M) and Mining Operations.

All credits from the list of Unit Standards generic to both Rock breaking Stoping and Developing.

All credits from the list of Unit Standards specific to Rock breaking Stoping.

or

All credits from the list of Unit Standards specific to Rock breaking Developing.

Elective:

A minimum of credits from the list of Unit Standards specific to Rock breaking Stoping.

or

A minimum of credits from the list of Unit Standards specific to Rock breaking Developing.

Critical cross-field outcomes

This qualification addresses the following critical cross-field outcomes. The way in which the critical cross-field outcomes are addressed is presented in detail in the unit standards.

1. Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.
2. Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization, or community.
3. Organizing and managing oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively.
4. Collecting, analysing, organizing and critically evaluating information.
5. Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion.
6. Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
7. Demonstrating an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

Learning programmes directed towards this qualification will also contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large, by making individuals aware of the importance of:

Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.

Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities.

Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts.

Exploring education and career opportunities; and developing entrepreneurial opportunities.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Integrated assessment

For award of the qualification, a candidate must achieve each unit standard as per "Exit level outcomes and rules of combination".

In addition, candidates must demonstrate the ability to engage in the operations selected in an integrative way, dealing with divergent and "random" demands related to these work operations, effectively. Evidence is required that the candidate is able to achieve the purpose of the qualification as a whole at the time of the award of the qualification.

Principles of assessment:

Appropriate: The method of assessment is suited to the performance being assessed.

Fair: The method of assessment does not present any barriers to achievements, which are not related to the evidence.

Manageable: The methods used make for easily arranged, cost-effective assessments that do not unduly interfere with learning.

Integration into work or learning: Evidence collection is integrated into the work or learning process where this is appropriate and feasible.

Valid: The assessment focuses on the requirements laid down in the Standard; i.e. the assessment is fit for purpose.

Direct: The activities in the assessment mirror the conditions of actual performance as closely as possible

Authentic: The assessor is satisfied that the work being assessed is attributable to the person being assessed.

Sufficient: The evidence collected establishes that all criteria have been met and that performance to the required Standard can be repeated consistently.

Systematic: Planning and recording is sufficiently rigorous to ensure that assessment is fair.

Open: Learners can contribute to the planning and accumulation of evidence. Assessment candidates understand the assessment process and the criteria that apply.

Consistent: The same assessor would make the same judgement again in similar circumstances. The judgement made is similar to the judgement that would be made by other assessors.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This qualification and the component unit standards have been compared with similar qualifications from the following countries:

Australia - MNM Metalliferous Mining

New Zealand - Introductory Skills underground metalliferous

In general this qualification and its component unit standards compare well with their international counterparts. The only major differences are in formatting and scope of coverage or focus.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

The qualification can act as a springboard from which people may progress to other qualifications in mining, mining-related sub-fields and mining supervision.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Internal moderation of assessment must take place at the point of assessment with external moderation provided by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments:

Focus the initial assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcomes expressed in the titles of the unit standards to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. The aim is to declare the person competent in terms of the qualification purpose. Where assessment at across titles or at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes. Take special note of the need for integrated assessment.

Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.

All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent as defined below:

1. Providers offering learning towards achievement of any of the unit standards that make up this qualification must be accredited through the relevant ETQA by SAQA. The bulk of the unit standards are vocationally based and adequate facilities must be provided for the learner to practice and gain experience in a protected environment prior to assessment.

2. Assessors registered with the relevant ETQA must carry out the assessment of candidates for any of the unit standards that make up this qualification. The assessor must have contextual competence in the form of a certificate, qualification or experience related to the unit standards in which assessments intend being conducted.

NOTES

This qualification has been replaced by qualification 49014, which is "National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Underground Hard Rock Tabular Ore Bodies", Level 3, 120 credits.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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.

1.	FOSKOR (PTY) LTD
2.	HARMONY GOLD MINING CO LTD
3.	NORTHAM PLATINUM LTD
4.	RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD