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: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
99383  Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management 
ORIGINATOR
Nelson Mandela University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 05 - Education, Training and Development  Schooling 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
This qualification is intended to develop an innovative, competent and reflective instructional leader within the field of Educational Leadership and Management. The qualification addresses instructional leadership characteristics that have the capacity and agency to bring significant change in the South African education system. The qualification seeks to assist teachers to:
  • Apply leadership knowledge and practices that promote quality teaching and learning.
  • Make decisions and take actions that are framed within the South African legal framework.
  • Be aware of current educational debates and translate those into practice.
  • Manage school resources.
  • Act as change agents and have the ability to address context-specific challenges in the school system.

    Rationale:
    The qualification addresses the need to develop leaders in the critical area of Educational Leadership and Management.

    The demand for this qualification is made by stakeholders who feel the need to further their continuing professional development. The qualification will stand beside the Bachelor of Education Honours. The Postgraduate Diploma while it contains a small research component focuses on the practical application of theory whereas the BED Honours is more research and theory focused. This qualification fills the niche in further developing individuals who wish to improve their own practice and become instructional leaders and curriculum developers. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL will be applied in terms of the institutional policy on RPL which involves inter alia that an admissions committee be set up to consider individual cases to evaluate the portfolio of evidence outlining the knowledge, competences and skills at NQF Level 8 that the learner has attained in order to be successful in this qualification.

    RPL may be used to grant advanced standing to learners through module exemptions.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entrance requirements are:
  • A Bachelor of Education, Level 7.
    Or
  • A general Bachelor's Degree plus a recognised professional Teacher qualification. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.
    Modules:
  • Curriculum Studies, 12 Credits.
  • Instructional Leadership, 12 Credits.
  • Educational Law and Policy, 12 Credits.
  • Theories of Leadership, 12 Credits.
  • Resource Management, 12 Credits.
  • Teacher Identities in Educational Contexts, 12 Credits.
  • Relational Management, 12 Credits.
  • Strategic Planning, Communities and Transformation, 12 Credits.
  • Research Report in Educational Leadership and Management, 24 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Construct critically reflective and reflexive understandings of contemporary theories in Education in general, and in the field of Educational Leadership and Management, in particular.
    2. Develop professional learning communities and display reflexive practices as the leader in a school context.
    3. Employ specialised pedagogic knowledge in the field of educational leadership and management.
    4. Conduct action research to inform leadership and management. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Contemporary theories of education and of leadership and management are identified and discussed.
  • The various theoretical models of leadership and their impact on leadership and management are assessed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Opportunities to work collectively in a community of practice are identified.
  • Others are encouraged to work collectively in a community of practice.
  • Interpersonal skills to lead and manage all people in the school community optimally are developed.
  • Effective relationships for effective teaching and learning are promoted.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • An assessment of the impact of curriculum on society as a whole is provided.
  • Curriculum evaluations that have taken place post 1994 South Africa are discussed.
  • Various theoretical models which attempt to explain the curricula are constructed and assessed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • A research problem is identified.
  • Relevant literature is consulted.
  • A written report is produced.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The qualification complies with the institutional Assessment Policy with a focus on assessment for and as learning in formative assessment and of learning in the summative component of the assessment.

    Formative Assessments includes a range of assignments and activities that will be classroom or school-based which include team collaboration/communities of practice and the demonstration of leadership skills in the area of Educational Leadership and Management. Summative Assessments includes Final Exams and an action research based Research Report in Educational Leadership and Management. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Qualifications from New Zealand and the United Kingdom have been used in this international comparability study.

    Unitec Institute of Technology in New Zealand offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management. The qualification is designed for current and aspiring leaders in all education sectors who want to further their careers, but do not want to commit to a full Master's Degree. It also advances learner's knowledge of educational leadership and management by exploring issues such as effective educational leadership, policy and strategy, human resources and leadership development and the complexities of educational organisations and teams.

    A Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Educational Leadership and Management offered at the University of London in the United Kingdom is designed for learners who wish to become leaders or managers in a school or college or educational consultants or to work in an educational planning, development or inspection role for a national or regional organisation. The purpose of the qualification is to:
  • Equip learners with th knowledge to improve their understanding of educational management and leadership.
  • Enable learners to apply theory and do research into their job.
  • Foster continuing professional development through reflection on practice.
  • Allow learners to consider issues related to the policy context of education.
  • Give learners the chance to contribute towards improvement of educational systems and institutions and to reflect on the quality of learning and teaching.

    Conclusion:
    The two qualifications cited above compare with this qualification in that they share similar titles, have a common purpose, contain similar learning and are alternatives to more research based qualifications. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification articulates specifically with the following qualifications offered by the University of the Free State.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Education Honours, Level 8 (ID: 87243).

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Administration in Higher and Further Education, Level 9 (ID: 16800).

    This qualification also offers systemic articulation opportunities with qualifications offered by other institutions provided the learner meets the minimum entry requirements.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Curriculum Studies, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Education in Education Management and Policy, Level 9.
  • Master of Education in Community Education and Entrepreneurship, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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.
     
    1. Nelson Mandela University 


    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.