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Introduction
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SAQA, as the body who is responsible for the development and implementation of the NQF, designates several Education and Training Quality Authority (ETQA) bodies whose responsibility it is to quality assure parties to the education and training process i.e. providers of training (both theoretical and workplace providers), assessors and moderators of training.
With the implementation of the NQF Act (2008), the 31 ETQA were centralised into three Quality Councils (QCs) which were responsible for standards-setting and quality assurance.
These QCs may, in terms of the NQF Act (2008) delegate quality assurance functions. The QC for occupational qualifications, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), once operational (expected in 2010), may delegate quality assurance functions to SETA’s.
Definitions:
Quality Management Systems means the combination of processes used to ensure that the degree of excellence specified is achieved. A quality management system is the sum of the activities and information an organization uses to enable it to better and more consistently deliver products and services that meet and exceed the needs and expectations of its customers and beneficiaries, more cost effectively and cost efficiently, today and in the future.
Quality Assurance means the sum of activities that assure the quality of products and services at the time of production or delivery. Quality assurance procedures are frequently applied only to the activities and products associated directly with the goods and services provided to external customers.
Quality Audits are activities undertaken to measure the quality of products or services that have already been made or delivered. A quality audit has no impact on quality.
Quality Control is undertaken by the person(s) who make the product (or deliver the service) for internal purposes.
Relevant guidelines on SAQA website:
- NQF and Quality Assurance
- Quality Management Systems for ETQAs
- Quality Management Systems for Education and Training Providers
- Criteria and Guidelines for Providers