National Skills Development Association - NSDPA

NSDPA Opinion: South Africa's Qualification Transition Risks Leaving Learners and Providers Behind

The National Skills Development Providers Association (NSDPA) notes the media briefing delivered by Minister Buti Manamela, supported by leadership from the QCTO, SAQA, the National Skills Authority, and the Department of Higher Education and Training regarding the transition from legacy (pre-2009) qualifications to occupational qualifications.

While the objectives behind the transition are admirable and have merit in principle, the NSDPA believes that the realities on the ground paint a far more concerning picture than the optimistic narrative often presented by policymakers.

For more than a decade, skills development providers have been adapting to a continuously changing regulatory environment. During this period, providers have invested millions of rands in infrastructure, learning material development, quality management systems, accreditation compliance, assessor and moderator capacity, and learner support services. Yet many now find themselves navigating a system plagued by uncertainty, administrative complexity, and implementation delays.

The question is not whether occupational qualifications are conceptually superior to legacy qualifications. The question is whether the occupational qualifications system is sufficiently mature, resourced, and capable of delivering on its promises.

Unfortunately, evidence suggests that significant challenges remain.

Many occupational qualifications have taken years to move from development to implementation. Assessment systems have often struggled to keep pace with qualification development. Certification delays continue to frustrate learners and employers alike. Workplace placement opportunities remain scarce in many sectors, along with EISA delays, creating a bottleneck that prevents learners from completing qualifications despite having successfully completed the theoretical and practical components.

The result is a system where learners frequently become the unintended victims of policy transition.

The NSDPA acknowledges the recent extension granted to the majority of legacy qualifications, with 534 of the 630 qualifications reportedly receiving an extension. This intervention provides important relief to providers and learners. However, the extension itself should not be mistaken for a resolution of the underlying challenges. The sector continues to face uncertainty regarding implementation readiness, learner articulation pathways, workplace-based learning opportunities, assessment capacity, and the pace at which occupational qualifications can effectively absorb learner demand. The focus must therefore shift from qualification extensions to ensuring that the occupational qualifications ecosystem is fully capable of supporting a sustainable transition.

South Africa cannot afford a transition that reduces access to learning opportunities under the guise of improving quality.

A qualification framework is only as effective as its ability to produce competent graduates at scale. If the new system results in fewer learners being enrolled, fewer learners completing programmes, or fewer providers being able to participate in delivery, then the country risks undermining its own skills development objectives.

Equally concerning is the increasing compliance burden placed on providers. While quality assurance is essential, the regulatory environment has become increasingly difficult to navigate, particularly for small and medium-sized providers that lack extensive administrative capacity. The unintended consequence may be the gradual consolidation of the sector into fewer, larger institutions, reducing diversity, innovation, and access.

The NSDPA further cautions against the perception that legacy qualifications have somehow failed South Africa. Many of these programmes produced thousands of competent artisans, administrators, managers, sales professionals, and technical specialists who continue to contribute meaningfully to the economy today. The challenge has never been the qualifications alone. The challenge has been broader issues including economic growth, labour absorption, workplace opportunities, and systemic inefficiencies.

Occupational qualifications should therefore be viewed as an evolution rather than a wholesale correction of a failed past.

The NSDPA calls on the Minister of Higher Education and Training, QCTO, SAQA, SETAs, and industry stakeholders to focus on the following priorities:

- Ensure that learners enrolled in legacy qualifications are provided with clear transition pathways, uninterrupted access to assessments and certification, and recognition of achievements already attained.
- Reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on providers.
- Improve certification turnaround times.
- Address EISA capacity constraints and assessment backlogs.
- Expand workplace placement opportunities through stronger employer partnerships.
- Provide greater transparency regarding qualification development and implementation timelines.
- Engage providers as strategic partners rather than merely regulated entities.

The success of the occupational qualifications system will not be measured by the number of legacy qualifications that are discontinued. It will be measured by whether more South Africans obtain meaningful qualifications, secure employment, and contribute to economic growth.

The NSDPA supports reform. However, reform must be practical, inclusive, and evidence-based. A qualification system that works well on paper but struggles in implementation serves neither learners nor the economy.

South Africa's skills development challenges require more than structural change. They require a system that is responsive, adequately resourced, and grounded in the realities faced by learners, employers, and providers every day.

Until these concerns are addressed, the transition from legacy qualifications to occupational qualifications remains a work in progress.

National Skills Development Providers Association (NSDPA)

Advocating for Providers. Protecting Learners. Strengthening Skills Development

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Skills Development at a glance - Context matters!!!

Dear Skills Development Provider, (Limpopo in particular)

Greetings from the National Skills Development Providers Association (NSDPA).

We are pleased to extend an invitation to all Skills Development Providers in Limpopo to participate in the upcoming SAQA Career Expo, which will take place on:

📅 Date: 16 June 2026
📍 Venue: Phagameng High School, Modimolle, Limpopo

The event coincides with Youth Day and is aimed at providing learners, parents, and the broader community with valuable information about opportunities within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector. It presents an excellent opportunity for Skills Development Providers to showcase their programmes, engage with prospective learners, and contribute to the advancement of education and skills development in our province.

Please note that this will be an outdoor event. Participating organisations are requested to provide their own gazebo, table, and chairs for exhibition purposes.

We are pleased to advise that SAQA has extended this invitation to the NSDPA, and in turn, the invitation has been circulated to 41 Skills Development Providers on our Limpopo database, including our Provincial Coordinator.

Providers interested in participating are kindly requested to RSVP directly to:

Mr Lucas Kganyago
📧 [email protected]

We encourage all Limpopo-based providers to take advantage of this platform to promote learning opportunities and engage directly with learners and stakeholders.

We look forward to seeing strong representation from the Skills Development Provider community.

Kind regards,

Membership Administration & Stakeholder Engagement Team
National Skills Development Providers Association (NSDPA)

E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

National Skills Development Providers Association (NSDPA) Objectives The Association is established as a non-profit entity to promote the following public benefit objectives: 1. To advocate for ethical, professional, and accountable practices within the skills development sector. 2. To represent private and public training providers at national, provincial...

The National Skills Development Providers Association (NSDPA) is encouraged by a productive and constructive engagement with SAQA today.

The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration across the skills development sector and ensuring that the voices of Skills Development Providers (SDPs) are heard and represented. Importantly, both parties committed to ongoing stakeholder engagement and creating platforms for meaningful dialogue with the SDP community.

As NSDPA, we welcome this spirit of partnership and look forward to working alongside SAQA and other key stakeholders to address challenges, improve quality, and contribute to a more responsive and effective skills development system for South Africa.

Together, we can build a stronger future for skills development.

Attention Limpopo Skills Development Providers

The National Skills Development Providers Association (NSDPA) would like to bring to the attention of our Limpopo members and stakeholders an exciting opportunity shared by SAQA.

The Phagameng Career Expo, taking place on 16 June 2026 at Phagameng High School in Limpopo, is expected to attract approximately 3,500 learners and NEET youth seeking information on education, training, and career opportunities.

This presents a valuable opportunity for Skills Development Providers, training institutions, employers, and career guidance organisations to engage directly with young people and showcase the pathways available to them.

We encourage our Limpopo SDPs and members to explore participation and support this important youth development initiative.

For participation details, please refer to the SAQA invitation.

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Discretionary Grant Funding Window Now Open

2026/27-DG-02

The Services SETA invites eligible sector employers, employer associations, professional bodies, recognised trade unions and accredited Skills Development Providers to apply for the 2026/27 Discretionary Grant funding window.

Funding will support learning programmes that build scarce and critical skills in the services sector.

Closing date: Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 14h00

Applications must be submitted online via the Services SETA DG portal. Late, manual or emailed submissions will not be accepted.

Apply here: https://dgportal.servicesseta.org.za/dg/
Enquiries: [email protected]