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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: |
| National Occupational Certificate: Borehole Pump Operator |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 121887 | National Occupational Certificate: Borehole Pump Operator | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Development Quality Partner-EWSETA | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| - | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| National Occupational Cert | Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology | Engineering and Related Design | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 180 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 04 | Regular-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 1121/24 | 2024-01-30 | 2029-01-30 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2030-01-30 | 2033-01-30 | |||
| 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 this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Borehole Pump Operator. A Borehole Pump Operator prepares, operates, inspects, measures, samples, tests, installs, adjusts, monitors, records and maintains a borehole pump to transfer groundwater to treatment plant or reservoir to residential, commercial, and industrial establishments for safe drinking and other uses in accordance with safe working instructions, principles and best practice. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: Climate change continues to negatively affect the availability of both groundwater and surface water contributing to water shortage/scarcity globally. This affects the livelihoods, human wellbeing both in urban and rural settings, food security and industries in the economy throughout the country. The communities especially in the rural areas are experiencing water shortages and depend on wells which are not sustainable. Policy-makers and other key role-players in the water sector are increasingly looking for ways to achieve sustainable supply and access to water resources to meet the basic human right and industry needs hence groundwater forms an important life sustaining resource that most rural communities depend on including major sectors in the economy such as mining and agriculture. Currently there is limited accessibility to groundwater resources in most areas due to non-functionality of the available groundwater infrastructure as a result of vandalism, hence the need for the qualification to provide knowledge and technical skills to individuals to operate and maintain borehole infrastructure which will promote socio-economic progress in the country benefiting the communities in terms of human health and industries utilising groundwater resources in their operations thus creating the economic welfare of the country. Currently there are no similar qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). This qualification is therefore designed to provide learners with requisite knowledge skills, values and attitudes to operate and maintain borehole pumps to ensure optimal performance and meet constant supply of water to the various users at this level. Qualifying learner will be able to operate and maintain groundwater infrastructure. No licensing or membership requirements apply to this qualification at the time of development. The qualification is intended for those who wish to start a career as borehole pump operators as well as process controllers, learners who have obtained civil engineering NATED programmes as well as those who have acquired knowledge, expertise and experience in groundwater abstraction operating the borehole pumps in the real-life work environment but do not have formal qualification. Qualifying learners will gain employment opportunities at government levels (national, provincial and local) as well in private homes, business or become self-employed. This qualification also allows career pathing to qualifying learners to articulate vertically and horizontally in water related qualifications to practice an occupation as process controllers, technicians and technologists. |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access to a qualification RPL for exemption of modules 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 or certifying a work experience record. Entry Requirements: |
| 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: 50 Practical Skill Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 53 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 77 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Monitor, evaluate and operate groundwater abstraction system for optimal performance.
2. Perform basic maintenance and troubleshooting on groundwater abstraction system. 3. Analyse and apply stakeholder engagement techniques to build trust and maintain relationships. |
| 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 Integrated Assessment: Integrated Formative Assessment The Skills Development Providers 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 to issue this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. The external integrated summative assessment will be conducted through a theoretical assessment, responding to scenarios and the evaluation of practical tasks on selected modules using relevant checklists at an approved assessment site in a simulated environment (where relevant) and conducted by assessors registered with the relevant AQP. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| Comparison was conducted against international qualifications, courses or learning programmes relating to borehole or groundwater abstraction/extraction from Australia and United States of America (USA). The comparison in the USA indicates best practice in the industry as other countries offer qualifications of groundwater abstraction/extraction at tertiary or degree level targeting professionals such as water engineers and supervision teams in borehole construction only.
Australia The Water Training Australia is a Registered Training Organisation regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). The organisation delivers nationally recognised water related qualifications predominantly to Water and Mining Industries across Australia. The NWP30219 Certificate III in Water Operations is an entry level qualification aimed at Groundwater Extraction Operators (Groundwater Operators) engaged in water industry operations to apply operational and procedural practices under supervision. The qualification is comprised of 23 units of competency and learners are required to obtain at least 11 units of competency to achieve the qualification (i.e 2 core units and 9 elective units with appropriate contextualisation contributing to the vocational outcome). The units of competency that compare favourably with the South African qualification include: Similarities: The qualification is similar to the South African qualification in terms of target group as it is aimed at water industry operators who need hands-on technical and operational competencies including groundwater abstraction, and content although structured differently as it is comprised of core and elective unit of competency offering strands for specialisations in networks, water sources, irrigation and the treatment of water. Differences: This qualification, however, differs with the South African qualification in terms of level, duration, and credits as the information is not provided. Also, there are no entry requirements for this qualification as opposed to the South African qualification that has minimum entry requirements to enable the learner to cope with the learning. United States of America (USA) The Tarrant County College is accredited with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) offering a Water Operator Ground certificate, a programme designed for Groundwater Operators aimed at providing learners with technical knowledge to competently perform in the water and wastewater utility industry as Groundwater Operators. The course content for Knowledge and skills includes: Similarities: The programme is similar to the South African qualification in terms of content and structure as learners are required to undergo internship or work experience in the South African context. Differences: The programme differs with the South African qualification in terms of qualification type as it a non-credit (continuing education) programme which leads to certification and industry-recognised credentials, and the duration of 404 hours for the knowledge component. The minimum entry requirements for this programme is not provided as opposed to the South African qualification that has minimum entry requirements to enable the learner to cope with the learning. Furthermore, the programme differs with the South African qualification as qualifying learners must be licensed to operate as Groundwater Operators and the licensing requirements for the programme are categorised in different classes, namely, Class A, B, C, and D respectively. Learners successfully completing the knowledge component of the programme will be issued with a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to apply and undertake Class B (Groundwater Operators) TCEQ licensing examination to be assessed on other subjects focusing on skills and internship to be licensed to operate whereas qualified Borehole Pump Operators in South Africa do not require a license to operate. Conclusion: The countries searched reveal that the qualification in Australia and USA certificate programme compare favourably with the South African qualification in terms of content and that USA is regarded as best practice in the industry. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification provides opportunities for the following articulation options.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: Diagonal Articulation: |
| NOTES |
| Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required knowledge and practical modules by means of statements of results and a record of completed work experience. Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements: 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 : Borehole Pump Operator: 862927-000-00-00. Encompassed Trade: This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD: Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) |
| 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. |