I wish I had the privilege of attending Adrienne Bird’s presentation on the articulation challenge.  I read her slide show (link available on SAQA website).

A need has been identified for clear articulation between training providers and in education.  The public’s input is asked.  The NQF is not meeting the challenge to provide a clear map for articulation. Many parties are confused:  parents, school leavers, adult learners, training providers, industry, etc.

I support the one proposal:  Move Quality Council for Trades and Occupation to Umalusi.  I realize that there will still be challenge of issues higher up, but this can also be addressed by Umalusi.  One body is necessary.  I agree with Des Squire’s proposal in the blog, “Should we change our approach to Skills Audits and their objectives?” He proposes one quality management system.  (Des, they must put you in charge of this process!)

Adrienne addresses different cores issues.  Vocational versus occupational is a challenge in our department (Education & Training, College of Cape Town).  The idea of adding an internship to NCV is very good, but the challenge with the NCV: Education & Training is not only the lack of practical/ in-service training.  This course is too generic.  The level 4 National FET Certificate:  ECD (occupational) includes in-service training and a variety of practical experience.  The latter equips the learner for a specific occupation.  Why the department implemented the NCV:  Education & Training is mind-baffling to me. In the presentation mentioned is made that if occupational and vocational is put under one umbrella it might be a disadvantage for the ‘academic content’ of the NCV-programmes.  The academic content is actually a part of the problem with the NCV-rogrammes.  In the Education & Training curriculum the contents overlaps with the contents of some university-degrees in foundation phase. As a college we commented on this before the implementation of this programme.  We were thanked for our input, but were informed that it was too late to take the comment in to consideration.  It has already been decided to implement the programme.