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: |
Occupational Certificate: Mechanised Soft-Cover Bookbinding Technician |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
101700 | Occupational Certificate: Mechanised Soft-Cover Bookbinding Technician | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
Development Quality Partner - Printing SA | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
- | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
Occupational Certificate | Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology | Manufacturing and Assembly | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 579 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 04 | Regular-ELOAC |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Registered | EXCO 0522/24 | 2021-03-25 | 2025-12-31 | |
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
2026-12-31 | 2029-12-31 |
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 this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an/a Mechanised Soft-Cover Bookbinding Technician. A Mechanised Soft-Cover Bookbinding Technician sets up, operates and maintains a variety of machinery and auxiliary equipment to manufacture commercial products for soft-cover publications. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: Printing South Africa engaged with the Printing and Packaging Industry to address the concerns regarding the competitiveness of the industry against international markets during which time the Bookbinding Trades and Occupations were identified as a scarce and critical skill in the industry. The existing National Craft Diploma: Bookbinding Mechanised/Cutting qualification is outdated and does not meet the requirements for a trade qualification in terms of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations and the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB). The lack of artisans with up to date technological skills has placed the Sector in a precarious position in so far as International competitiveness is concerned. Industry indications are that over 600 apprentices should be trained on a national basis to meet the artisan replenishment needs of the sector. The current number of apprentices being trained nationally has fallen short of this indicator over the last number of years. Learners will benefit from receiving a high standard of training and education that is occupationally aligned. Once qualified, learners may gain access to industry-related supervisory, master craftsman or management programmes that will be made available in the Printing and Packaging Sector to facilitate vertical career advancement. Printing and Packaging employers will benefit by gaining access to suitably qualified artisans to operate and maintain costly bookbinding, finishing equipment and machinery. By creating career pathways in the Sector employees will be able to progress from General Factory Workers to qualified Artisans. This will create a healthy employment cycle providing employment opportunities to unemployed youth. It is envisaged that Supervisory and or Master Craftsmen qualifications will be developed shortly to provide career pathway opportunities. Learners will be drawn from schools and TVET Colleges and will secure employment in the Sector and open themselves up to career advancement opportunities. Papermaking, waste efficiency and recycling are subjects covered in this curriculum. The efficient and responsible use of paper, adhesives and other materials is of critical importance to the industry as it forms a significant component of print finishing and bookbinding manufacturing costs within a green economy. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by stating results or by certifying a work experience record. RPL for Access to the Qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 112. Practical Skill Modules Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 225. Work Experience Modules Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 223. |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Set up, operate and maintain a guillotine to cut a variety of products to specifications.
2. Set up, operate and maintain folding machines to fold various impositions and formats of paper products. 3. Set up, operate and maintain saddle stitching line to produce saddle stitch publications. 4. Set up, operate and maintain an adhesive binding line to produce adhesive bound publications. 5. Troubleshoot soft-cover bookbinding problems and initiate corrective action on all adhesive binding, saddle stitching, folding, guillotine and auxiliary equipment. 6. Oversee and enhance the performance and behaviour of all soft-cover bookbinding subordinate teams in adhesive binding, saddle stitching, folding, guillotine and auxiliary equipment. |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6: Integrated Assessment: Integrated Formative Assessment: The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment. Integrated Summative Assessment: An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and associated assessment criteria. The external summative assessment will be a trade test as prescribed under Section 26d of the Skills Development Act and defined in the trade test regulations conducted through an evaluation of practical tasks and theoretical questions at an assessment centre accredited by the QCTO and conducted by an assessor registered by NAMB. The assessment will take place over a minimum of 2 days. Should recognition for completed tasks be sought the process will be done following the Trade Test Regulations. A candidate who attempted a trade test will be given recognition for those trade test tasks in which he/she has been found competent and will not be retested in those tasks provided that the learner is competent in at least 50% of the trade test tasks given during the trade test. Recognition will be retained by the candidate for a maximum of 3 attempts or 18-months from the date of successful completion of the trade test task whichever comes first. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
The existing National Craft Diploma in Bookbinding Mechanised/Cutting, like all Competency Based Modular Training Programmes in the Printing, Newspaper and Packaging Industry, has been accredited by the City & Guilds of London.
City & Guilds was chosen for international comparability purposes because they are the United Kingdom's leading provider of vocational qualifications and have over 8500 centres in 100 countries and are recognised by employers worldwide for providing quality qualifications. For purposes of comparability the Level 3 NVQ Mechanised Print Finishing and Binding, General Print (5158-32) qualification was chosen. The occupational tasks detailed in the Mechanised Soft-Cover Bookbinding Technician qualification cover all the afore-mentioned mandatory common units and the optional technical units (Groups A & B) which are also covered in this qualification's knowledge modules. It is generally accepted that the UK Level 3 NVQ qualifications are comparable to the South African NQF Level 4 qualifications. Conclusion: In conclusion, the Mechanised Soft-Cover Bookbinding Technician qualification is comparable to the chosen internationally recognised City & Guilds qualification. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
This qualification provides opportunities for horizontal and vertical articulation options.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
N/A |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
N/A |
NOTES |
Qualifying for external assessment:
In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required standards by means of statements of results and work experience including the Foundational Learning Competence (FLC). Additional legal or physical entry requirements: Colour perception testing. Criteria for the accreditation of providers. Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code is: Mechanised Soft-Cover Bookbinding Technician: 662301-000-00-00. This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD: Related Part-Qualifications |
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. |
NONE |
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. |