Welcome to this week’s edition of the on-going Moss Movement Career Guide and skills development series: “Mobilizing Our Youth for A better Future”.
My name is Collin Mkhonza, and I will be your guide.
Previously in this Career Guide series I went further into the discussion of the skills development opportunities available for those who would like to enter into institutions of further education and training; such as Learnerships and Apprenticeships, and highlighted the importance and benefits of each one of them – in reflection, also, of the latest flagship career opportunities that exist in the Energy and Water sector. I then ended off on a note about The South African Qualifications Authority and National Qualifications framework, and brought toattention the Umalusi quality council – which developed the CAPS syllabus, as all high school students and their parents would know – all of which embodies the topic of discussion for this week. This post will tend towards the more technical side by talking mostly of the Educational Councils and Authorities, and their role in the educational System.
Let’s kick off with a diagram, Diagram 3A, which depicts the SETA responsibilities. See link below.
(FIND ALL DIAGRAMMES MENTIONED IN THE SERIES HERE)
Note: all diagrams are coded according to the time of post, for example in this week’s post all diagrams will be coded by week three; 3A, 3B, 3C and so on.
About The South African Qualifications Authority and National Qualifications Framework (SAQA):
The South African Qualifications Authority and National Qualifications Framework (SAQA) was set up to do three things, it was set up to oversee the creation of qualification and standards; to oversee the development and implementation of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF); and to provide an oversight role and ensure that the education and training taking place is of high quality.
SAQA managed this process through the Education and Training Quality Assurance bodies within SETA. This system is changing now as a Quality Council on Trades and Occupations (QCTO), and has been introduced alongside Umalusi.
(See Diagram 3B: Quality Assurance Bodies/Council. Follow the slide share link above)
Umalusi is a Quality Council (QC) for General and Further Education and training as per the national qualifications Framework (NQF) act No. 67 of 2008. In essence, the Act makes it Umalusi’s responsibility to quality assure qualifications that are located on levels 1-4 of the National Qualifications framework (NQF).
A related Act, the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance (GENFETQA) Act No 58 of 2001, as amended, provides for, among other things, the quality assurance in general and further education and training and for control over norms and standards of curriculum and assessment. Umalusi is also expected to quality assure independent schools, accredit and monitor assessment bodies.
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) was established in by the Skills Development Act to design and develop occupational standards and qualifications and submit them to the South African Qualifications Authority for registration on the national qualifications Framework. This also includes establishing and maintaining occupational standards and qualifications; ensure the quality of occupational standards and qualifications and learning in and for the workplace.
The Council on Higher Education (CHE) has one permanent committee, the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC). The HEQC has executive responsibility for quality promotion and quality assurance in higher education. The Higher Education Act of 1997 (reference: Higher Education Act 101 of 1997) states that the functions of the HEQC are to promote quality in higher education; audit the quality assurance mechanisms of higher education institutions and accredit programmes of higher education.
The National Qualifications Frame Work (NQF)
The National Qualifications Frame Work (NQF) provides a set of guidelines and organisational structure for the qualifications system. Education and training has been incorporated into this framework. Through having recognised qualifications against a national standard, individuals can be assessed against these standards and pegged at particular skills levels.
(See Diagram 3C: NQF Aims and Objectives in the slides share link)
Let us go back to the career opportunities available in the Energy and Water Sector. The fact is, the exploitation of just about every energy resource (including renewables, but especially fossil fuel) requires water. Conversely, the purification of water for drinking requires energy, and some purification methods such as desalination require a lot of energy.
Electricity Technologies & Power Generation
In South Africa, our most abundant source of energy is coal. Most of our coal is low quality with a low heat value and high ash content. Eskom (is the electricity authority that operates as a state owned entity) relies oncoal fire powered stations to produce approximately 90% of its electricity.
Eskom uses over 90 million tons of coal per annum. Coal mining in South Africa is relatively cheap compared to the rest of the world. These low costs have had an important effect on the nation’s prosperity and potential for development.
Statistics from the International Energy Agency show that nearly 70% of global electricity is currently generated from coal. The power generation market is seeking solutions to a range of challenges, including the need for infrastructure renewal in the wake of the global financial crisis, as well as issues relating to increasing demand for renewal energy, security, skills shortages and an evolving regulatory environment.
Basics of Waste water Treatment
What is Waste Water Treatment?
It essentially involves the removal of potentially harmful contaminants that are present in the domestic and industrial wastewaters we produce. These contaminants include physical components (rags, plastic, wood, and containers0, biological components (bacteria, fats, greases) and chemical components (nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals, industrial wastes etc.).
Domestic Waste Water (sewage)
Mainly contains human and animal wastes, household wastes (from sinks, showers, baths, washing machines etc., small amounts of groundwater infiltration and small amounts of industrial wastewater. The solid and liquid discharges from humans and animals are considered by many to be the most dangerous from a human health point of view.
Industrial Wastewater
It consists of industrial wastes only. They vary widely in composition, and require special treatments (tertiary) in order to comply with discharge regulations. Municipalities will often enforce surcharges or penalties on nearby industries if their effluents contain excessive levels of toxic materials that overload the treatment works. Oftenindustry will determine that it is safer (or ore economical) to treat wastewater independently.
DID YOU KNOW?
- – 2 900 litres – The volume of water required to produce one cotton t-shirt.
- – Demand for solar electric energy has consistently grown by 20-25% per year over the past 20 years.
- – 50 000 – the estimated number of dams in the world that are over 15 m high.
For a list of the various FET colleges in Gauteng which offer various courses, and provide information on how you can enrol, follow this link https://www.gautengcolleges4fet.edu.za/gcolleges/gcolleges.html Though by next week I should have posted some more information slides on slide share, where you could also look them up alongside with other contacts to all educational institutions concerned with Skills Development.
I would like, also, to drop a note on a Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention to take place on the 28th of March, where I will be one of the speakers on the topic of Leadership; this is an invitation to all who may be interested in joining the fellowship and or attending the Convention. It will be held in Emperors Palace, which is in the East Rand of Johannesburg. For more information please visit www.tommorowsleaders.co.za
And that brings us to the end of this week’s post. Catch you next week again where I will be defining and discussing Scarce and Critical Skills and, for current high school scholars, elaborate on what you can do as special consideration before choosing a career. Next week I will be introducing other exciting career choices embedded in the Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Logistics industries, with in depth information of various professional bodies that one may join and become a member of – as a student or a professional – this with an aim of focusing into the avenue of Continuous Professional Development (CPD). If you would like to go ahead you may visit the website here at www.cips.org
Until next time,
Have a fabulous week, and wish you all the best!
