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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Formulate and coordinate government communications programmes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12158  Formulate and coordinate government communications programmes 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Government Communication and Information Stms 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language Communication Studies 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for people who have or seek responsibility for formulating and coordinating government communications that ensure a positive image for government.

Persons credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • research, develop and coordinate government communications. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in the following areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Communications, language or journalism at a minimum of NQF Level 5 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Research government communication requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Requirements of the communication are identified in relation to current and/or new legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Current and past communications are analysed in terms of their effectiveness, fitness-for-purpose, strengths and weaknesses. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Target audiences are identified in terms of application and relevance of the information. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Target audiences include both internal and external publics
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Potential methods of communicating are analysed in terms of content and target audience. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Requirements are identified through liaison with key stakeholders and role players. Sufficient opportunities are provided for affected parties to contribute to and comment on the requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Opportunities for comment include internal and external processes
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Requirements are identified through an analysis of current situations of government communication as adopted by cabinet. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. Requirements identified are relevant to government in terms of content and applicability to specific departments and target audiences. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    8. Requirements identified are in line with the objectives of government and within its constitutional and legislative framework. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Develop government communication programme. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The communication programme has the potential to enable government to achieve its set objectives in terms of transparency, application and implementation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The communications programme is relevant to the target audience and is in accordance with constitutional and current legislative framework. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The communication meets the required quality of communications of different government structures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The communication is in line with and enhances government's national strategic communication objectives and policies. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The selected method of communicating is appropriate in terms of content and target audience. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. The communication has the potential to promote a positive image of government within the targeted audience. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Coordinate government communication programme. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. A policy for implementation of communications in terms of method, media and time frames is developed and distributed to all affected parties. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Mechanisms for monitoring and analysing government communication and information activities are developed in accordance with the identified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Common standards and uniform methods of communication are designed and implemented in accordance with requirements of the target audience. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Results of communications are recorded and evaluated in terms of meeting the original objectives. Corrective action is taken where necessary. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Corrective action includes providing additional communication and reporting shortfalls
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Reports on communications are complete, accurate and concise. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Communications programmes are co-ordinated and conducted in accordance with set policies. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Accreditation Options:
    Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the Public Sector ETQA.

    Moderation Option:
    The moderation requirements of the Public Sector ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. This includes the direct assessment of knowledge. 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems:
  • Ensuring plans for contingencies are in place; outlining solutions to problems related with formulation and coordination; taking corrective measures when problems arise.

    Understand the world as a set of inter-related parts of a system:
  • Understanding the impact of different communication programmes; understanding the dynamics existing between programmes from the private, the non-governmental organisations and the public sector. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others and in team:
  • Planning with other stakeholders, interacting with departments; maintaining good relations with client audiences. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively
  • Ensuring that communication programmes promote the policies of government; responding to contradictory outcomes positively and in good time. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information
  • Ensuring viability of programmes formulated; displaying understanding of coordination; evaluating the impact of communication programmes. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills
  • Interacting with government departments; issuing memorandums and communiques; briefing and counselling of communication officials. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities 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 focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure 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. Rather make sure 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, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments 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. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  50585   National Certificate: Public Service Communication  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 
    Core  67460   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  61729   National Diploma: Policing  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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.