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:

Occupational Certificate: Legislation Administrative Assistant

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
120743	Occupational Certificate: Legislation Administrative Assistant
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner-PSETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
QCTO - Quality Council for Trades and Occupations			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Part-Qualification	Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security		Justice in Society
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	36	Not Applicable	NQF Level 05	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"		EXCO 0522/24	2023-03-08	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 part-qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Legislation Administrative Assistant.

A Legislation Administrative Assistant provides administrative support to members in the execution of legislature business; facilitates and reports on public participation processes and facilitates and coordinates legislative committee processes. Typical graduate attributes will include among others good communication skills, high moral standards, good self-management and sound emotional intelligence.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Plan and facilitate public participation processes.

Coordinate administrative support to facilitate legislature committee procedures.

Rationale:
Parliament and the Legislatures in South Africa, who are responsible for making and passing laws, initiated and participated in the development of this part-qualification. The public plays an important role in the work of Parliament, and the Constitution requires Parliament to facilitate public participation in the law-making process and to take reasonable measures for public access to its committee meetings and house sittings.

This part-qualification addresses the requirements and needs of Parliament, which is essential for the democratic, social, and economic transformation of the country. Typical learners likely to be attracted to this part-qualification include Parliamentary officials and other government employees wishing to pursue a career in Parliamentary Services.

Qualifying learners should be able to follow various careers within the Parliamentary Services and Government Departments in the fields of administration, secretarial and committee's support. Furthermore, this part-qualification provides a learning pathway towards the Legislation Administrator and Legislation Facilitator qualifications, of which recognition is granted for the modules already completed or achieved.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for Access to the Qualification

Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in
the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution,
skills development providers or workplaces accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification.

Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part qualification will be credited for modules through 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 issuing a statement of result.

Entry Requirements:
Any NQF Level 4 qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

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

Historical, Political, Social, and Economic Conditions Impacting on The Legislative, Level 5, 8 Credits.

Legislative Framework for Parliament, Level 5, 4 Credits.

Purpose and Functioning of Oversight Committees, Level 5, 8 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 20

Practical Skill Modules

Coordinate Institutional Events for Parliament and Legislatures, Level 5, 2 Credits.

Provide Administrative Support, Level 5, 2 Credits.

Plan Facilitation of Stakeholder Processes, Level 5, 4 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 8

Work Experience Modules

Parliamentary Administrative Support Processes and Procedures, level 5, 8 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 8

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Plan, analyse and facilitate public participation processes.
2. Coordinate administrative support to facilitate legislature committee procedures.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Plan and analyse facilitation of stakeholder processes to identify public participation requirements whilst applying practical democratic principles.

Analyse and respond to public comments through consolidated reports reflecting informed citizenship and responsible public participation and meeting ethical and accountability standards.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Coordinate meetings and events for parliament in accordance with ethical and accountability standards.

Give administrative support for the execution of parliamentary committee activities in accordance to standard processes, procedures, and protocols.

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 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 entail a theoretical assessment conducted at accredited assessment centres or registered assessment sites and evaluated by an assessor registered by the AQP.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This qualification is compared with qualifications from countries that have similar systems of history, democracy, governance structures, public service, and community approaches and challenges, as compared with South Africa. Such countries include New Zealand and Botswana.

New Zealand
The Knowledge and Practical Module components of the South African Part-Qualification:
Legislation Administrative Assistant compare favourably in terms of content, depth, and credits with the following qualifications registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority:

ID 3636, New Zealand Certificate in Public Sector Service Delivery (Level 4), 80 Credits.

ID 3638, New Zealand Certificate in Public Sector Management (Level 5), 70 Credits.

However, no specific information was available on Parliamentary processes, procedures and body of knowledge. These qualifications are similar in that they cover Management and Commerce, Business and Management and Public and Health Care Administration, which are cross-cutting competencies in the Public Sector.

Similarities
The purpose of these qualifications is to provide the New Zealand public sector with people who perform high quality service delivery, in compliance with public sector requirements, for a broad range of stakeholders. This is very similar to the South African part-qualification which requires qualifying learners to amongst others support legislators to inform the law-making process, facilitate and report on public participation processes, and facilitate and coordinate legislative committee processes.

Differences
The duration of the New Zealand qualifications is longer when compared to the South African part - qualification. The other major difference in the New Zealand qualifications is the fact that there are no listed entry requirements.

Botswana
The Institute for Development Management (IDM) is a regional organisation operating in Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland (BLS Region). It aims to help these countries meet the management needs of the Region through management development initiatives, which include training, consultancy, research, and the establishment of a Management Resource Centre. IDM offers a Certificate in Public Administration and Management. This qualification runs for 48 weeks and aims to meet the need for continuous training and development in the Public Sector. Their approach is that Government permeates all aspects of peoples' lives and therefore regulates, prescribes, and sanctions peoples' behaviour through laws and regulations. It imposes taxes and determines what people can do or not do. The purpose of the Public Administration and Management (CPAM) qualification therefore is to introduce students to the concept of government and governance. People who have completed this course can demonstrate a good theoretical understanding of government; its institutions and processes, as well as its powers and responsibilities. They are also, able to work in both public and private organisations where they can supervise the daily administrative activities of units therein.

Similarities:
There are two aspects related to the entry requirements:

O Levels with a pass in English.

Junior certificate or equivalent with at least five (5) years working experience.

RPL is also administered to determine readiness and capability to learn at a higher level. This is like the requirements of the South African qualification except the number of working experience years.

Differences:
There is no specific information dealing with Parliamentary processes, procedures and body of knowledge as this content relates to Sovereignty of the State issues which are not generally shared. There is five (5) years working experience as an entry requirement in the Botswana qualification, which does not apply in the South African qualification.

Conclusion
It was extremely challenging to access information on Parliamentary processes, procedures and body of knowledge against which the Legislation Administrative - Assistant part-qualification could be compared. The information that was received specifically regarding Public Sector skills and competencies indicated broad synergies whilst South Africa has very specific Parliamentary requirements that are not covered elsewhere.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This part-qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator: Public Service Administrator, NQF Level 5.

Vertical Articulation:

Advanced Occupational Certificate: Legislation Facilitator, NQF Level 6. (Upon registration).

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 all subjects and modules or alternative qualifications where applicable.

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 Part-Qualification: Legislation Administrative Assistant: 261902-000-00-01.

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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