The registration of professional designations on the NQF : a South African policy predicament?

Abstract

South African Qualifi cations Authority (SAQA) completed the development of and is implementing the Policy and Criteria for Recognising a Professional Body and Registering a Professional Designation for the Purposes of the National Qualifi cations Framework Act, Act 67 of 2008. The entity has recognised 85 professional bodies and registered 290 professional designations since July 2012. However, this article argues that there is a legal and subsequent policy error related to the registration of professional designations on the NQF. This must be rectifi ed in law and in policy. While professional designations do have a relationship to the NQF by virtue of underlying qualifi cations, designations in itself cannot be registered on the NQF. However, through another mechanism, the National Learners’ Records Database, a separate register for professional designations must be established in order to measure the real impact of professionalisation in contributing to the continuing transformation in South Africa. Addressing unfair exclusionary practices within the professions will require political will and consistency in ensuring meaningful stakeholder participation, academic rigour and investment in ensuring sustainable capacity in regard to systems, people and money.