Achievers 2019
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Sign up for the right qualification, for the right reason, at the right institution
With South Africa’s matric pass rate at an historical high, many thousands of learners are in the unexpectedly happy position of having received a Bachelor’s pass, and therefore qualifying for further study.
Those who didn’t make provision for this eventuality, may now find themselves in a situation where they no longer need to settle for their Plan B, but can in fact go for Plan A, realising their dreams of pursuing a degree, but with no place at university yet.
These matriculants need to take extra special care to ensure that they are signing up for the right qualification, for the right reason, at the right institution, and not fall prey to unscrupulous providers just because they feel pressured to sign up for anything because of time constraints.
“Higher education minister Blade Nzimande has warned prospective students not to fall for bogus colleges, which can cost precious time and money with no return at the end, but to ensure that they sign up at a registered and accredited institution,” said Peter Kriel, from The Independent Institute of Education.
He said ensuring that an institution and qualification is above board, by doing the relevant checks, is indeed a crucial step before one even considers enrolling.
But more than that, prospective students have to ensure that their qualification will, after three or four years of study, in fact still be relevant and likely to provide a foot in the door and the ability to hit the ground running once that door has opened into the world of work.
“Unfortunately, many qualifications are not going to adequately prepare you for the world of work, and work of the future. Keep in mind that technology is constantly advancing, with new approaches, best practices, tools and so forth being incorporated into workplaces all the time, all over the world.
“So your institution and qualification must be cognisant of this, and importantly, have a close connection to industry, to ensure that your education isn’t obsolete by the time you attend your graduation ceremony,” he said.
Kriel added that prospective students must first speak to career advisors at public universities and private institutions, interrogating both their insight into the current challenges in today’s world of work, as well as their approach and insight into the likely challenges of the future.
“Ask them how they expect your field to evolve in future, and how their curriculum takes this into account. In addition, how agile their response is likely to be to new technological and other advances, and their incorporation into the curriculum.
“Many institutions will claim they go beyond academics and theory, but can they give you insight into their commitment to lifelong learning and the development of vital soft skills so highly valued by employers?”
Kriel said while the clock is indeed ticking now for those who still need to apply to a higher education institution, due diligence must under no circumstances be discarded.
“A hasty and ill-informed decision in coming weeks can have major repercussions into the future. So make sure you check all the boxes before you embark on this new and exciting chapter in your life, find the right qualification for you, ensure that it is registered and accredited, and ensure that your institution is future-focused and committed to the holistic development of students and providing assistance – before enrolment, during studies, and after graduation.”
Verifying a qualification
South Africa has a register of all qualifications which is managed by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), and this register is referred to as the NQF.
Something can only be called a qualification if:
- It has a credit value of 120 as a minimum.
- Is registered on the NQF with an NQF ID (sometimes called a SAQA ID) number.
The shortest possible qualification is therefore normally one year as it takes about a year of study to do 120 credits. A degree is normally at least 360 credits and so on. Without these two being in place, what you are studying is considered a short course and not a qualification, so it cannot be called a diploma or degree.
So, if a South African institution is offering you a diploma for three weeks of study, it is not legitimate and warning lights should start flashing about that institution.
Prospective students can find a complete list of all registered private colleges and higher education institutions at www.dhet.gov.za/SitePages/DocRegisters.aspx.
Exam tips from top tutors
With schools open, many learners may already be thinking about their examinations for this year.
When it comes to preparing for school exams, Rebecca Pretorius from Crimson Education offers the following advice.
- Establish a routine. Mark out periods of time for concentrated study, regular breaks, meals and relaxation during the study period. Avoid late nights and sleep-ins that mess with your routine.
- Set objectives. Look at the amount of work you need to review and set daily and weekly objectives for covering it – then celebrate your progress.
- Unplug. Cell phones and social media channels are the enemy of concentration. If you are easily distracted by them, make unplugging a part of your routine.
- Manage stress. Academic pressure can put a lot of stress on teenagers, especially those for whom high marks don’t come easy. Remember to set aside time for out-of-school activities and your passions – they matter to universities too.
For parents, Pretorius recommended taking an interest not only in a learners’ current curricula but also their plans for further education.
Taking control of your child's screen time
Chances are, over the festive season your children spent more time on their mobile devices. Now that schools have reopened, that time will need to be reviewed and limited.
The good news is that there are a number of Android apps you can use to better control your child’s screen time experience and lay down the digital law.
Some of these apps enable parents to set up a Google Account for children, then view their online activity and even control their screen time.
For example, you can easily see if your child is spending five hours a day playing games when they claim to be reading or doing Mathletics.
You can guide your child to making better choices and spending their time on the mobile device engaging with more educational and higher quality content.
If you’re concerned that your child will become a Minecraft addict, the app also enables you to manage to approve or block apps your child wants to download from the Google Play Store. You can also manage in-app purchases, and hide specific apps on their device.
These apps also allow you to set time limits and a bedtime for supervised devices, so that you can be sure junior isn’t watching YouTube videos under the bed covers when it’s time to sleep.
You can also lock the phone remotely when you want your child to take a break and enjoy the sunshine.
