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:

Occupational Certificate: Garden Worker

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
99692	Occupational Certificate: Garden Worker
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - SERVICES SETA (agri)
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate	Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation		Horticulture
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	69	Not Applicable	NQF Level 02	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0425/24	2018-07-01	2025-12-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-30		2029-12-30

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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
122234	Elementary Occupational Certificate: Garden Worker	Not Applicable	NQF Level 02	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Garden Worker.

A Garden Worker provides assistance with the cultivation and maintenance of gardens.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Prepare soils and establish garden plants.

Care for established garden plants.

Care for and establish lawns in gardens.

Rationale:
This qualification will enable individuals to be employed as Garden Workers who maintain gardens that fall within the jurisdiction of municipalities, gardens established in housing complexes, private properties and commercial properties.

The current profile of Garden Workers in South Africa is characterised by persons who have few opportunities to enter into formal learning and an associated career path due to poor educational standards and marketable skills. Therefore this qualification promotes careers for persons with an interest in gardening and provides an opportunity to achieve a recognised qualification that will enhance employment opportunities, from rural to urbanised areas in South Africa.

The qualification also supports national initiatives to promote cooperative small business development and opportunities for entrepreneurs. There are various business opportunities available for small entrepreneurs in gardening services in all towns, cities, tourist venues and others across South Africa.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning:
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.

RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

Entry Requirements:

NQF Level 1.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:

Knowledge Modules:

821401000-KM-01, Basic applied soils science, Level 2, 2 Credits.

821401000-KM-02, Basic plant biology, Level 2, 2 Credits.

821401000-KM-03, Basic plant pests, Level 2, 2 Credits.

821401000-KM-04, Basic categories of plants, Level 2, 4 Credits.

821401000-KM-05, Propagate and care for plants, Level 2, 4 Credits.

821401000-KM-06, Garden tools and equipment, Level 2, 4 Credits.

821401000-KM-07, Safety, health and environmental protection, Level 2, 4 Credits.

821401000-KM-08, Productive work, Level 2, 2 Credits.
Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 24.

Practical Skill Modules:

821401000-PM-01, Prepare soils and establish plants, Level 2, 8 Credits.

821401000-PM-02, Care for established plants, Level 2, 8 Credits.

821401000-PM-03, Care of established lawns, Level 2, 8 Credits.
Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 24.

This qualification also requires the following Work Experience Modules:

821401000-WM-01, Soil preparation and plant establishment practices, Level 2, 5 Credits.

821401000-WM-02, Garden plant care practices, Level 2, 8 Credits.

821401000-WM-03, Garden lawn care practices, Level 2, 8 Credits.
Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 21.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Prepare soils, plant and maintain garden plants.
2. Provide care for established garden plants.
3. Provide the necessary care for and plant lawns in gardens.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Garden tools and equipment are selected and cared for.

Soils are prepared and nutritional supplements added.

Seed sowing practices, tree and shrub planting practices and ornamental seedling planting practices are conducted to ensure long term plant health and growth.

Planting holes for trees and shrubs are spaced, prepared and nutritional supplements are added.

Water is applied in accordance with the needs of the plant.

An understanding of soils and soil preparation practices is demonstrated.

An understanding of plant establishment practices is demonstrated.

An understanding of plant propagation, planting techniques, plant nutrition and watering of newly established plants is demonstrated.

Health, safety and environmental protection standards are upheld.

Knowledge of productive work practices and ethical conduct is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Plant thinning, division and planting practices and plant pruning practices are performed to achieve the desired result.

Plant parts are selected, trimmed or shaped to achieve the desired result.

An understanding of fertiliser, mulching applications, compost making and application practices are demonstrated.

An understanding of garden watering and water application practices is demonstrated.

An understanding of the cleaning of and caring for pruning tools to prevent cross contamination or spreading of diseased are demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

The care of established lawns is understood and lawn mowing practices are demonstrated.

Motorised equipment used for the care of established lawns are inspected for safe operation, mechanical functionality, operated, cleaned and cared for.

An understanding of fertilisers, the application of fertilisers, top dressing and the application of top dressing to established lawns is demonstrated.

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 leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment:
The external summative assessment will be a knowledge assessment that allows for verbal assessments as well as an observation of the execution of practical tasks at a registered assessment site.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Qualifications and training programmes from Australia and the United Kingdom were selected for comparison to the South African qualification.

Australia:
The Victorian Primary Industries Training Board (ITAB) Inc. of Australia recognises the need for a formal qualification for persons tasked with the maintenance of parks, gardens and streetscapes and other areas such as recreational and natural open spaces where plants are primarily involved.

A Certificate II in Parks and Gardens is registered by the ITAB and includes the following units of learning:

Planting, transplanting and pruning small trees and shrubs.

Operating equipment and machinery.

Maintaining properties and structures.

Undertaking irrigation and drainage systems maintenance activities.

Treating weeds, pests and disease.

Establishing and renovating grassed areas.

Supporting re-vegetation works.

The United Kingdom:
A Level 2 Certificate in Gardening (0082-01) offered by City and Guilds contains the following unit of learning:

Understand the basic principles of plant science.

Establish and maintain plants outdoors.

Contribute to fruit production by organic methods.

Introduction to plant selection.

Understand the principles of organic horticulture.

Participate in propagation techniques.

Conclusion:
The training needs of Garden Workers included in this qualification compare well with the international qualifications selected for this comparison.

The South African qualification is specifically aimed at providing an opportunity for persons employed as Garden Workers, in the domestic, government, corporate as well as garden services businesses to gain access to formal recognition. To this end, the qualification is structured to meet the specific South African labour market requirements.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Horizontal Articulation:

National Certificate: Horticulture, Level 2 (ID 66589).

National Certificate: Landscape Irrigation, Level 2 (ID 66429).

Vertical Articulation:

National Certificate: Landscape Irrigation, Level 3 (ID 73109).

National Certificate: Landscaping, Level 3 (66649).

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

Qualifying for external assessment:

In order 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.

Foundational communication is a requirement for awarding this qualification.

Additional legal or physical entry requirements:

No additional requirements are specified.

Criteria for the accreditation of providers:

Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) website.

The curriculum title and code is: 821401000: Garden Worker.

This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:

This is not a trade.

Part Qualifications.

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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