SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Certificate: Telecommunications for Customer Premises Equipment

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
21798	Certificate: Telecommunications for Customer Premises Equipment
ORIGINATOR
SGB Telecommunications
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was MICTS until Last Date for Achievement			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National Certificate	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Manufacturing and Assembly
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 2	NQF Level 02	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	2006-10-03	2009-10-03
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-10-03		2013-10-03

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
78963	National Certificate: Telecommunications for Customer Premises Equipment	Level 2	NQF Level 02	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Learners assessed competent against this qualification will be able to install and maintain basic Customer Premises Equipment within the Telecommunications Industry. Depending on the selection of the electives, the learners will be able to provide support and train customers, organise resources, schedule activities, conduct periodic quality testing and recover customer equipment. The learners will also be able to perform work in the fixed-line work environment.

Rationale for the qualification

This qualification reflects the workplace-based needs of the Telecommunications Industry as expressed by stakeholders. This qualification provides the learner with accessibility to be employed within the Telecommunications Industry. The qualification also provides the learner with flexibility to articulate in the Telecommunications environment with a wide variety of specialisation options and articulation within the Telecommunications Industry, Information Technology and Electronic Industry.

The level of flexibility within the range of electives will allow the individual to pursue a career as a specialist as an installer and maintainer of basic CPE. The competencies achieved from the electives will serve as foundational knowledge and skills relevant to other disciplines.

The most important need for this qualification is to provide recognition for prior learning. There are no registered CPE qualifications for the industry on NQF level 2. CPE equipment is installed, maintained, upgraded and programmed on a daily basis. Training is currently not provided against nationally recognised qualifications.

This qualification will promote portability and accessibility within the Telecommunications, Electronic and Information Technology environment.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Knowledge, comprehension and application of language, mathematics, natural science at NQF level 2, the cabling and wiring on telecommunications networks for CPE, installation and maintenance of basic customer premises equipment, principles of electronics / electricity, occupational health & safety practices and computer literacy.

Recognition of prior learning

This qualification may be achieved in part or whole through the recognition of prior learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. RPL will be conducted according to the guidelines and policies as stipulated by SAQA and the relevant ETQA. "Moderation" explains further.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

All Fundamental unit standards are compulsory (36 Credits)

All Core unit standards are compulsory (50 Credits)

A selection of Elective unit standards (Minimum 34 Credits)

The level assigned to this qualification is appropriate as it is done according to SAQA`s level descriptors. The following is illustrated about the qualification:

The process requires familiarity with local knowledge and contexts.

Well-developed literacy skills, numeracy skills and basic operational knowledge.

An ability to use the above to select and apply known solutions to well-defined routine problems.

An ability to summarise and give an opinion on given information.

This qualification will enable the qualifying learner to articulate to other Telecommunication specialisation domains at NQF level 2 and will allow progress to the Certificate in Telecommunication for Customer Premises Equipment NQF 3.

The qualification consists of fundamental, core and elective components.

Fundamental
A learner must achieve or demonstrate his/her competence in the field of Communication Studies and Language (20 credits), and Science & Mathematical (16 credits).

Core & Elective
The unit standards in Appendix A reflect the skills and competencies needed in order to be transportable in the Telecommunication environment.

The following embedded knowledge is applicable to this qualification:

Apply oral and written communication when liaising with the industry.

Complete documentation when preparing and conducting work within the industry.

Apply decision-making and problem solving skills before and during work performed within the industry.

Demonstrate understanding of product facilities and operations within the industry.

Follow the industry`s employer`s policies and procedures.

Reach agreement with the industry through negotiation.

Facilitate co-operation between industry role-players.

Apply light current electrical principles when work is performed within the industry.

Apply faultfinding procedures when work is performed within the industry.

Utilise test equipment when work is performed within the industry.

Demonstrate understanding of the correct use of tools when work is performed within the industry.

Demonstrate computer literacy when work is performed within the industry.

In the core component of the qualification a learner must achieve or demonstrate his/her competence in the 50 credits within the core group of unit standards.

The elective component of the qualification enables the person to pursue a learning path with interests of his/her own that can contribute to other learning pathways, such as providing training, customer support, organising and managing material / stock.

A minimum of 34 credits must be selected from the electives in order to achieve the minimum of 120 credits of this qualification.

An average learner is currently taking 840 notional hours in order to achieve the learning outcomes as described within the core and elective group of the unit standards.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Install, maintain and recover basic Customer Premises Equipment.

2. Provide customer training and support on basic Customer Premises Equipment.

3. Organise resources and schedule activities in terms of installation and maintenance of basic Customer Premises Equipment.

4. Conduct quality testing and inspection on installations and maintenance of basic Customer Premises Equipment.

5. Operate basic test equipment and perform a functional equipment test.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Installation is planned and prepared according to job requirements, test procedures, customer specifications and needs.

Installation is conducted and concluded according to technical, job, equipment specifications, quality practice, test procedures and employer`s policies and procedures.

Maintenance is planned, conducted and concluded according to employer`s policies and procedures, job requirements, equipment specifications and the maintenance process.

Recovery is planned and prepared according to employer`s policies and procedures, job requirements, customer relation guidelines, equipment specifications and Health and Safety regulations.

Recovery is executed and concluded according to job and equipment specifications, customer requirements, and employer`s policies and procedures.

2.

Customer training is planned and prepared according to employer`s policies and procedures, customer needs and requirements and health & safety regulations.

Customer training is conducted and concluded according to product specifications, customer need, employer`s policies and procedures and industry practice.

Customer support is provided according to employer`s policies and procedures, job requirements, customer need and requirements.

3.

Resources are identified and obtained according to job requirements and employer`s policies and procedures.

Resources are validated and controlled according to employer`s policies and procedures and job requirements.

Activities are planned and prepared according to employer`s policies and procedures and job requirements.

Activities are scheduled and concluded according to job requirements and specifications.

4.

Quality testing is planned and prepared according to job, site and equipment specifications and employer`s policies and procedures.

Quality testing is conducted and concluded according to employer`s policies and procedures, customer requirements, manufacturer`s and equipment specifications.

Quality inspection is planned and prepared according to customer specifications, job order, equipment specifications and employer`s policies and procedures.

Quality inspection is conducted and concluded according to employer`s policies and procedures, customer requirements, manufacturer`s and equipment specifications and Health and Safety regulations.

5.

Operation of test equipment is planned and prepared according to job requirements, to employer`s policies and procedures, manufacturer specifications and job specifications.

Operation of test equipment is conducted and concluded according to employer`s policies and procedures and manufacturer specifications.

Functional equipment test is planned and prepared according to employer`s policies and procedures, job requirements, equipment and manufacturer specifications.

Functional equipment test is conducted and concluded according to employer`s policies and procedures, job specifications, equipment and manufacturer specifications.

Integrated Assessment Criteria:

The practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies demonstrated for the group of unit standards in this qualification must proof that the whole competence is more than the sum of the parts of the competencies.

Oral or written questioning regarding the reflective competencies within the qualification is essential. If the identifying and solving of problems, team work, organising one-self, the using of applied science, the implication of actions and reactions in the world as a set of related systems are not clear from the observation through a method of oral or written questioning, a case study can also be used to determine the person`s development and integration of applied knowledge and skills.

The preparation, planning, conducting and concluding telecommunications related installations, maintenance, planning, design and quality assurance can be assessed in one application.

Applicable assessment tool(s) must be used to establish the foundational, reflective and embedded knowledge to problem solving and application of the world as a set of related systems within the Telecommunications environment.

A detailed portfolio of evidence is required to proof the practical, applied and foundational competencies of the learner.

Assessors and moderators should develop and conduct their own integrated assessment by making use of a range of formative and summative assessment methods. Assessors should assess and give credit for the evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience.

Unit standards in the qualification must be used to assess specific and critical cross-field outcomes. During integrated assessments the assessor should make use of formative and summative assessment methods and assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The following facets were the focus of national and international benchmarking, which occurred continuously throughout the Project:

The standards writing approach

Contents of the standards themselves

Appropriateness of the selected standard format

The type of unit standards developed by the Telecommunications Industry within countries like Australia and New Zealand. The Unit standard titles are similar but the content of the standard is different because of the business culture in the South African Telecommunications Industry.

Standards and qualifications that have been used for benchmarking thus far:

Australian`s and New Zealand`s qualifications and standards.

It is the TSGB`s intent to continue benchmarking with other countries and other relevant unit standards within South Africa. Benchmarking with the United Kingdom will be pursued.

Benchmarking with international qualifications becomes difficult because the methodology of how they developed qualifications is not known. The content does not apply to the NQF. Australia has similar qualifications.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification has been developed for professional practice across the Telecommunications Industry. The intent is to ensure professionalism within the Telecommunications Industry and ensuring the increase of occupational performance standards in general.

The qualification is applicable to micro and macro businesses. The qualification builds on other certificates from a range of sub-sectors and will provide articulation with a range of qualifications in both Management, Information Technology and service areas of practice.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Moderation must include internal and external moderation of assessments. Internal and external moderation systems must ensure that all assessors produce assessments that are credible, fair, reliable and practicable.

Internal and external moderation systems must provide learning opportunities that are transparent, affordable and enhancing development in the field and sub-field of the Framework.

The accredited provider with the relevant ETQA must be able to provide internal moderation.

External moderation will be done by the relevant ETQA according to the particular ETQA`s policies and guidelines (now in process to be developed and finalised at the different ETQA`s) for assessment and moderation.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against unit standards:

Assessment activities should focus on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then assessment should be focused around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.

Ensure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.

Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Ensure that the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.

The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.

The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, in order for the candidate to achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they are confident that the performance is reproducible.

Assessment should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent.

NOTES

This qualification has being replaced by qualification 78963, which is "Certificate: Telecommunications for Customer Premises Equipment", Level 2, 120 credits.

UNIT STANDARDS:

	ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Core	10500	Install single line customer premises equipment	Level 2	NQF Level 02	8
Core	10493	Operate basic test equipment	Level 2	NQF Level 02	1
Core	10449	Perform a functional test on basic customer premises equipment	Level 2	NQF Level 02	4
Core	10560	Perform maintenance on basic customer premises equipment	Level 2	NQF Level 02	8
Core	10471	Perform indoor wiring and cabling for CPE	Level 3	NQF Level 03	12
Core	10467	Perform a quality installation inspection	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Core	10450	Prepare site for installation	Level 4	NQF Level 04	12
Fundamental	7451	Collect, analyse, use and communicate numerical data	Level 1	NQF Level 01	2
Fundamental	7452	Describe, represent and interpret mathematical models in different contexts	Level 1	NQF Level 01	6
Fundamental	12473	Identify and respond to selected literary texts	Level 1	NQF Level 01	5
Fundamental	7450	Work with measurement in a variety of contexts	Level 1	NQF Level 01	2
Fundamental	7447	Working with numbers in various contexts	Level 1	NQF Level 01	6
Fundamental	12470	Write for a variety of different purposes	Level 1	NQF Level 01	6
Fundamental	8963	Access and use information from texts	Level 2	NQF Level 02	5
Fundamental	8964	Write for a defined context	Level 2	NQF Level 02	5
Elective	10554	Perform periodic quality testing of new or enhanced basic customer premises equipment	Level 2	NQF Level 02	3
Elective	10447	Organise resources	Level 3	NQF Level 03	11
Elective	10451	Provide advice and support to customer	Level 3	NQF Level 03	6
Elective	10452	Recover customer equipment	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Elective	10453	Schedule customer equipment installation	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Elective	12311	Train customers on new and/or enhanced products	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	16

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.

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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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