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: Hygiene and Cleaning 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
20173  National Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Hygiene & Cleaning Services 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was SERVICES until Last Date for Achievement  OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National Certificate  Field 11 - Services  Personal Care 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Regular-Unit Stds Based 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 0160/05  2006-05-30  2007-02-21 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2008-02-21   2011-02-21  

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
57937  General Education and Training Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning  Level 1  NQF Level 01  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The primary purpose of this qualification is to develop the foundational, practical and reflexive competencies in a learner required for a career in the Hygiene & Cleaning Services Industry.

Central to the qualification is the development of a culture of quality service and professionalism in the cleaning industry. This qualification intends to produce employable cleaners who can find gainful employment in the cleaning industry.

Credits gained at one level in this qualification will be transferable throughout the system, giving the learner the opportunity of building up credits towards additional qualifications in a related field (e.g. Hospitality, Health Care or Manufacturing), or a related branch of cleaning (e.g. Industrial or Textile Cleaning

The credits reflect the practical and theoretical education and training aspects of the qualification.

RATIONALE FOR THE QUALIFICATION

The narrow consultation process followed, clearly indicated the need for a qualification and incorporated unit standards that will allow employees in the Cleaning Industry to obtain qualifications and / or standards at NQF Level 1.

This qualification is needed to transform the Hygiene and Cleaning Services Industry by:
  • Promoting and continually improving a professional image;
  • By instilling a culture of awareness of a clean environment that will improve the quality of life for all South Africans.

    The qualification aims to:
  • allow employees within the industry to identify a career path within the Hygiene and Cleaning Industry.
  • develop a sense of pride amongst employees for their jobs and their industry.
  • develop a better understanding of the industry amongst employees.
  • enhance a code of ethics inclusive of viable and sustainable environmental management practices.
  • provide consistent quality and safety standards.
  • educate clients about hygiene, for the purpose of using "best practice" cleaning methods. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    As this is an NQF Level 1 qualification, and therefore the starting point of a career and of training and development in the cleaning industry, no formal learning is assumed to be in place. It is however expected that learners have ABET Level 1 communication skills (verbal or written) to confirm the knowledge required in the individual unit standards.

    RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)

    Learners who already work in the cleaning industry and who believe that they possess the competencies to enable them to meet all of the outcomes listed in the unit standard will be able to present themselves for assessment against the unit standards of their choice. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    To obtain this qualification, learners are required to select a minimum
    number of:

    16 credits from the field of Mathematics;
    20 credits from the field of Communication and Language Studies;
    36 credits from the core titles listed, and;
    the remaining number of credits from the elective titles listed. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The critical cross-field outcomes are integrated into the assessment criteria of each individual unit standard. Whilst each unit standard is designed to be assessed on its own, (including the critical cross-field outcomes), unit standards have been combined into modules of marketable skills which can be assessed accordingly.

    Thus, although the qualification is aimed at providing the opportunity for learners to obtain a qualification at Level 1, the modular approach enables them to become productive in a short time. Once a learner has completed all the modules successfully, s/he would have completed the full Level 1 Qualification.

    The assessment of critical cross-field outcomes is integrated with the modules and thus the module serves as an exit level outcome. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

    The assessment of competence in the cleaning industry needs to remain practical in nature, and should be conducted in the workplace, as far as possible.

    1. NATURE AND TYPE OF ASSESSMENT

    There is a need for two kinds of assessment:

    Formative assessment:
    1.1. Ongoing formative assessment, aimed at the development of learners.

    This could include assessment of areas such as:
  • Hygiene
  • Client care
  • Communication skills
  • Individual skills and combinations of skills, under different circumstances
  • Critical outcomes such as problem solving, communicating with clients and colleagues, practicing environmental awareness, working effectively as a member of a team in a cleaning context, practicing personal time management and ensuring that there is always sufficient stock on hand to perform the tasks required

    Summative assessment:
    1.2. Summative assessment in which it can be seen whether under real life working conditions and in the presence of an industry-based assessor, a learner is able to demonstrate competency against a particular unit standard. The summative assessment can also be used as a diagnostic assessment tool aimed at identifying the learner`s skills gaps.


    2. PLACE OF ASSESSMENT

    2.1. Workplace assessment

    The nature of the cleaning industry is such that labour is the most significant cost factor. To save costs it would therefore be advisable for learning and assessment to take place at his/her workplace while performing the actual job. In addition the assessment would thus take place in an environment familiar to the learner.

    Assessment against individual unit standards will take place in terms of the assessment policy of the Services SETA ETQA. The SGB responsible for the generation of assessment standards will therefore, with the support of the Services SETA ETQA, be approached with a request to develop an Assessor standard at NQF Level 3.

    Assessment needs to take place at the request of the learner, at a time and venue mutually agreed to by the assessor and the learner. The assessor should be a person that the learner knows. An assessor can be a supervisor in the industry or a colleague of the learner, on condition that the colleague is a registered assessor. Peer assessment will significantly enhance the credibility of the assessment process.

    Where assessment takes place at the workplace, it must be ensured that the appropriate facilities, tools, equipment, chemicals and support systems are available and accessible to both the assessor and the learner. For a workplace to be used as an assessment venue, it needs to have a quality management system in place to ensure the consistency and quality of assessments conducted. In addition, the workplace must have a clear policy guiding the control, storage and traceability of assessment results and documents, which complies with the requirements set out by the Services SETA ETQA.

    2.2. Assessment centres

    In the absence of workplace assessment capacity, assessment centres can be used. These will have to be registered and accredited by the Services SETA ETQA. It is also expected that the centres have adequate physical facilities resembling actual cleaning contexts that would satisfy cleaning industry requirements. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The SGB used the New Zealand and Australian cleaning standards as a point of departure in comparing the standards internationally. In addition, the appropriate UK City & Guilds standards (general cleaning), and the Scottish SVQ`s (Waste Management) were reviewed.

    As no industrial cleaning standards were available, major assembly line manufacturers were approached for input and relationships with the suppliers and builders of production equipment in use in these production plants, formed. Such suppliers included Heinemann, Oehnle, Siemens and AEG.

    Principles from a range of other international standards of practice have been incorporated into the unit standards. These include the HACCP, Coddex Alimentarius and AIB standards (applicable to food safety), GMP (applicable to pharmaceuticals), the International Sanitary Supply Association (general cleaning practice), and the US Centre for Disease Control guidelines (applicable to hygiene, health care and contamination control.)

    Standards were further developed in such manner that they interface with ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and VDA 6 quality and environmental systems where these exist in the workplace.

    In addition the following SABS Codes of Practice were consulted:
  • SABS 049 - Hygiene Management
  • SABS 0330 - HACCP Food Safety
  • SABS 0245 - Maintenance of Textile Floor Coverings
  • SABS 0247 - Cleaning of Textile Upholstered Furniture

    The following standards developed by the National Contract Cleaners` Association were consulted:
  • NCCA Cleaning Chemical Standard
  • NCCA Cleaning Equipment Standard
  • NCCA Window Cleaning Safety Standard 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Depending on the elective combinations pursued by candidates, this qualification articulates well with the envisaged NQF Level 1 Certificate in Domestic Services. In the absence of NQF Level 1 qualifications in a number of related fields of learning, this qualification can serve as a useful building block or basis of progression into these industries at NQF Level 2. The industries we refer to include:

    1. Health Care
    2. Waste Management
    3. Hospitality (Accommodation Services)
    4. Food Production
    5. Retail and Merchandising

    As the NQF becomes populated over the next few years, the SGB would be in a better position to put into place articulation agreements that grant recognition of credits from one qualification to another. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The moderator has the following functions:
  • Monitoring and evaluating the standard of all summative assessments in terms of the Services SETA ETQA policy.
  • To review both substantive and process related matters in the case of an appeal against an assessment decision.
  • Maintaining standards by exercising appropriate influence and control over assessors to ensure good standards of practice.
  • Exercising a moderation function in case of a dispute between assessors, or between any assessor and learner.
  • Giving written feedback to Workplace Education and Training Committees and the Services SETA as and when required.
  • Submitting reports to the Services SETA ETQA in terms of the ETQA policy.

    The moderator does not necessarily have to be competent against the unit standards assessments under moderation, as his / her primary function is to ensure quality and due process. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    There is a need for assessors and moderators.

    Assessors will perform assessments of competence against the unit
    standards

    Assessments of competence against the unit standards include all kinds of assessment. It is foreseen that these assessors will be accredited at NQF Level 3. The degree of integrated competence required at this level does not require a final integrated assessment.

    As agreed with the Services SETA ETQA, assessors must meet the following requirements:
  • Be an accredited and registered assessor in terms of the Services SETA ETQA Assessment Policy.
  • Be fluent in the official language in which the learner prefers to be assessed.
  • Be able to adequately record assessment responses, minutes of meetings between learner and assessor and any other information that may be needed for the performance of moderation activities.
  • Be competent and accredited against the unit standard to be assessed.
  • Be a fair and approachable person and have time available for assessment activities.
  • In the event of an outstanding appeal against an assessment decision, (lodged with the Services SETA ETQA or a duly constituted Workplace Education and Training Committee), the assessor will not be allowed to perform further assessments.

    In addition to the criteria mentioned under the headings above, assessors need to demonstrate the following:
  • Knowledge of the NQF and the role of SAQA and the ETQA.
  • Knowledge of the unit standards, the qualification, the skills content and the assessments required.
  • Knowledge of assessment practices.
  • Knowledge of career structures and employment levels within the cleaning industry.
  • The ability to write reports and provide objective recommendations to the Accreditation Body. 
    		•

    NOTES 
    This qualification has been replaced by qualification 57937, which is "National Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning ", Level 1, 120 credits. 

    UNIT STANDARDS: 
      ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
    Core  12522  Clean and maintain restrooms and bathrooms  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  12519  Clean and maintain toilets and urinals  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  12516  Deal with customers in a cleaning environment  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  12518  Handle and store cleaning chemicals  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  12515  Identify surfaces, soilage and its cleaning procedures  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  12514  Maintain personal hygiene, health and presentation  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  12520  Understand basic cleaning principles and perform basic cleaning tasks  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
    Core  12517  Use chemicals in cleaning procedures  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  12521  Wet mop floors  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Fundamental  12449  Engage in a range of speaking and listening interactions (Revised)  Below Level 1  Level TBA:Pre-2009 BelowL1  6 
    Fundamental  7464  Analyse cultural products and processes as representations of shape, space and time  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Fundamental  12511  Apply quality principles in everyday cleaning tasks  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Fundamental  7451  Collect, analyse, use and communicate numerical data  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Fundamental  7449  Critically analyse how mathematics is used in social, political and economic relations  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Fundamental  14084  Demonstrate an understanding of and use the numbering system  Level 1  NQF Level 01  1 
    Fundamental  7463  Describe and represent objects and the environment in terms of shape, space, time and motion  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Fundamental  12510  Maintain effective work relationships in a cleaning environment  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Fundamental  12509  Manage personal finances  Level 1  NQF Level 01  8 
    Fundamental  12513  Plan and manage time in the workplace  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Fundamental  12512  Practice environmental awareness  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Fundamental  7461  Use maps to access and communicate information concerning routes, location and direction  Level 1  NQF Level 01  1 
    Fundamental  7447  Working with numbers in various contexts  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
    Fundamental  7812  Perform basic calculations  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Elective  12533  Buff, burnish and scrub hard and resilient floors  Level 1  NQF Level 01  10 
    Elective  12523  Clean above the floor surfaces  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  12532  Clean building surrounds  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  12528  Clean small kitchens, kitchenettes and tea kitchens  Level 1  NQF Level 01  10 
    Elective  12529  Clean windows, frames and glass panels  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  12525  Identify, collect, classify and handle waste  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  12524  Operate a scrubbing/buffing and burnishing machine  Level 1  NQF Level 01  8 
    Elective  12530  Remove spots from carpets  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  12531  Remove spots from upholstery  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  12527  Sweep floors  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  12526  Vacuum clean dry surfaces  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 


    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.
     
    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.