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:

Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Supervisor

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
119663	Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Supervisor
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner -TETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate	Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction		Civil Engineering Construction
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	88	Not Applicable	NQF Level 04	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered		EXCO 0522/24	2022-08-04	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

The purpose of this part-qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the knowledge, understanding, competence and experience required to operate as a Railway Track Master.

A Railway Track Supervisor constructs, aligns, repairs, and maintains permanent way infrastructure, components, and associated works to ensure the safe running of trains.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Construct, maintain and rehabilitate basic and specialised railway lines and per-way elements.

Prepare, join and repair basic and specialised rail tracks and track components.

Inspect, plan, and coordinate the construction and maintenance of permanent railway lines.

In addition, learner attributes (including problem solving, decision making, interpreting and communicating information and applying essential methods and techniques) will be integrated in the learning process. Learners will have to prove competence of the above knowledge, skills, attitudes, responsibilities, and tasks imbedded in the exit level outcomes.

Rationale:
This part-qualification forms part of the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master. "Railway Track Master" is also recorded as a Trade. The specific need was identified during the development of the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master when it became clear that current trade workers might wish to upskill themselves by completing this "new" component to the qualification.

Railway Track Supervisors have been identified as a scarce skill in the Transport sector. The development of railway infrastructure is a key driver for economic development. In South Africa, one of the barriers to accelerated economic development is the provisioning of cost effective and reliable mass transport systems for both freight and passenger services. A key strategy in the National Development Plan is the improvement and proper maintenance of infrastructure. Currently and in the future, there is a need for skills and abilities to build and maintain an ever-growing railway network. The part-qualification is targeted at providing the fundamental human resource capabilities required to supervise the work required to deliver this strategy. This part-qualification is required as part of a career path for railway track construction workers and will thus benefit the sector society and the economy.

Typical learners likely to be attracted to this part-qualification are the workers in the rail construction sector who have completed related qualifications and wanting to further their careers. Learners entering this part-qualification will exit with an NQF Level 4 qualification which may in future enable them to pursue further management studies within the Civil Engineering field.

This part-qualification will contribute to the full development of the learner by providing recognition, further mobility, and transportability within the sector. This part-qualification forms part of a suite of related qualifications (originally all developed as part-qualifications but had to be registered separately) to create an occupational pathway with several options to follow, each resulting in employment opportunities in areas of specialisation but with the possibility to expand knowledge and skills. This part-qualification was developed specifically to enable learners with any of the associated qualifications to further specialise.

These qualifications include the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Welder, NQF Level 3; Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor, NQF Level 3. The relationship and career path opportunities between the various qualifications are quite complex and is outlined in detail in the various curricula. This part-qualification Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Supervisor NQF Level 4 will provide learners who have completed either the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Welder, NQF Level 3 or Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor, NQF Level 3 an opportunity for career progression.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of the compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills and Work Experience Modules:

Knowledge Modules:

734212-000-01-KM-06, Concepts of Managing and Supervising Per-way Construction and Maintenance, Level 4, 40 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 40

Practical Skill Modules:

734212-000-01-PM-10, Supervise and Oversee the Execution of Rail Construction and Maintenance Activities, Level 4, 16 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 16

Work Experience Modules:

734212-000-01-WM-06, Processes to Supervise Rail Construction and Maintenance Activities, Level 4, 32 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 32

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate the ability to inspect, plan, and manage rail construction and maintenance of projects and processes, by applying key terms, rules, concepts, established principles, theories and health and safety requirements.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Accurately read, interpret measured results of track conditions and list and describe the priority actions to deal with defects in terms of internationally accepted railway practices and local legislative requirements.

Inspect various sections of railway tracks and assess the quality of the construction and maintenance work on these tracks. Reports on this assessment is accurate and indicates all the defects, problems and potential problems associated with the completed work.

Reflect on the appropriate application of the occupational health, safety and environmental requirements associated with the work being done during railway track construction and maintenance demonstrates a deep understanding of the practical hazards and risks associated with railway construction and maintenance work.

Plan for the execution of rail construction and complete maintenance activities within the parameters of an approved budget and time frames and in compliance with all Occupational Health safety and environmental requirements.

Deliver end products by construction and evaluate and quality assured maintenance machines according to the international leading practices for such work, identify all defects, and describe the potential short, medium, and long-term consequences of these defects.

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 together with work experience leads to entrance in the External Integrated 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 integrated assessment will be conducted through a trade test as prescribed under section 26 D of the Skills Development Act and defined in the Trade Test Regulations. It will be conducted through an evaluation of written and practical tasks covering critical aspects in a simulated environment at an assessment centre accredited by QCTO and conducted by an assessor registered by the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB). The assessment will take place over a minimum of 2 days.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The countries selected for international comparability for the Railway track Master include the United Kingdom and Australia. These countries were selected as both has well-defined career paths for the railway sector that includes training related to rail construction and maintenance.

Australia
Centre of Excellence in Rail Training, Sydney Australia offers the Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure (Track Work) as a 1-year apprenticeship with no specified entry requirements and Certificate III in Rail Infrastructure as a two-year apprenticeship with Certificate II as entry requirement.

The Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure (Track Work) requires completion of all generic core units as well as all the units from one of the specialist elective groups. Even though all units from the generic core as well as the track specific modules are covered by the Occupational Certificate: Rail Track Master, none of them are covered by the part-qualification Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Supervisor.

The Certificate III in Rail Infrastructure requires completion of all generic core units as well as all the units from one of the specialist elective groups, i.e., track maintenance and construction; turnout installation; track welding; track examination; rail testing; turnout construction; rail track surfacing and track drainage maintenance. Modules for the elective groups focus on technical competencies only and are therefore not reflected below. All modules of the generic core (duration unknown) however do relate to management and supervisory skills. These are listed below.

Generic Core

Use communications systems.

Conduct workplace information briefings.

Implement and monitor work health and safety procedures.

Apply quality systems.

Similarities and differences:
The Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master is like the two Australian Certificates combined in terms of content, duration and approximate level.

All core modules of the Australian Certificate III in Rail Infrastructure are covered by the part-qualification Occupational Certificate: Rail Track Supervisor. It can therefore be said that the part-qualification Rail Track Supervisor compares well only with the content and approximate level of the core modules of the Australian Certificate Certificate III in Rail Infrastructure.

United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom apprenticeship standards and several associated qualifications, under the City of Guilds, have been developed in the field of rail engineering for the disciplines track, overhead line, electrification, traction and rolling stock, signalling and telecoms.

An entry level apprenticeship for a Rail Engineering Operative can be completed over a period of one year. This will require the learner to achieve two qualifications, i.e., Level 2 Diploma in Rail Engineering Operative Knowledge and Level 2 Diploma in Rail Engineering Operative Competence.

An advanced level apprenticeship for a Rail Engineering Technician can be completed over a period of three years. This will require the learner to achieve two qualifications, i.e., Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Knowledge and Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Competence.

Both knowledge qualifications are currently being offered by Fast Line Training Services with branches across the UK.

The Level 2 Diplomas roughly correspond with NQF Level 3 (pre matric) and the Level 3 Diplomas with NQF 4 qualifications. Only the content of the knowledge qualifications is specified whilst the practical component remains the responsibility of the employer.
All modules from the two knowledge Diplomas are covered by the Occupational Certificate Railway Track Master.
None of the Level 2 Diploma, but most of the modules from the Level 3 Diploma relates to supervision. The modules from the Level 2 Diploma are reflected below and those not covered in the part-qualification Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Supervisor are marked with an asterisk below.

Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Competence (Track) (Duration 680 hours)

Complying with statutory regulations and organisational safety requirements in the rail industry.

Using and communicating technical information.

Working efficiently and effectively as a rail engineering technician.

Plan Permanent Way activities.

Implement and monitor safe working systems for permanent way maintenance or renewal activities.

Allocate and Monitor Resources for permanent way engineering activities.

Undertake detailed inspection of the Permanent Way infrastructure.

Assess the performance and condition of the Permanent Way assets.

Establish track geometry and position.

Ensure that the track is fit for operational purposes.

Similarities and differences:
The structure of the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master is different from the UK Diplomas as it is one qualification and not two sets. The Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master is however like the four UK Diplomas combined in terms of content, duration, and approximate level.

The part-qualification: Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Supervisor covers most of the modules of the Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Competence (Track). It can therefore be said that the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Supervisor compares well with the knowledge content, duration, and level of the Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Competence (Track).

Conclusion
The Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master (a three-year qualification) compares well and is like both the Australian Certificates combined and the UK Diplomas combined in terms of content, duration and approximate level.

The part-qualification: Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Supervisor covers some modules of the Australian Certificates and the UK Diplomas at Level 3. However, seeing that it is only a part-qualification and only covers some modules, it cannot be said that it compares well with the Australian Certificates. It however does compare well with the knowledge content, duration, and level of the Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Competence (Track).

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:
Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master, NQF Level 4.

Vertical Articulation:
This part- qualification does not articulate vertically with any other qualification currently registered. Vertical articulation will be possible after the completion of the parent qualification.

NOTES

Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of a statement of results and statement of work experience as well as proof of successful completion of the following subjects and modules or alternative programmes where applicable including Foundational Learning Competence.

Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:
None.

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 are Railway Track Supervisor: 734212-000-01-00 which is an integral part of Railway Track Master: 734212-000-00-00.

Encompassed Trades:

This part-qualification is not a Trade

Assessment Quality Partner:

National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB)

PARENT QUALIFICATION:

Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master, NQF Level 4.

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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