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Overview of the ETQA

The ETQA Unit of the LGSETA is formally accredited by SAQA in accordance with the SAQA Act (Act 58 of 1995).

Overall Objective

To ensure that education and training systems, processes, procedures and qualifications are in place to ensure that high-quality education and training is available in the education sector as per the relevant pieces of legislation.

Functions of the ETQA

The ETQA unit is responsible for, among others:

• Ensuring continuous quality improvement of education and training through the accreditation, monitoring, auditing and moderation of work-based, public and private providers;
• Registering assessors and moderators;
• Undertaking capacity-building interventions for accredited providers to meet the LGSETA, NSDS and NQF objectives;
• Maintaining a learner management system compatible with the National Learner Record Database (NLRD), which is administered by SAQA
• Certification of learner achievements.
• Develop Occupational Qualifications

The primary purpose of the ETQA Unit is to monitor and audit the achievement of standards by:

• Strengthening quality assurance through review, research and development of appropriate and relevant quality assurance policies and processes;
• Ensuring that all accredited providers are delivering the quality of provisioning for which they are accredited, through a comprehensive accreditation, monitoring and auditing process
• Identifying and facilitating the generation of qualifications and unit standards in the ETD sector, and submit to SAQA for registration on the NQF;
• Accrediting constituent education and training providers for specific standards or qualifications registered on the NQF;
• Evaluating learning programmes;
• Assuring the quality of learner achievements;
• Improving the quality and relevance of education and training in the sector;
• Establishing and maintaining a database by recording learner achievement;
• Registering constituent assessors;
• Support Provider Development.

Provider Accreditation

Accreditation is the certification, usually for a certain period of time of a body or an institution, as having the capacity to fulfill a particular function within the quality assurance system set up by SAQA in terms of the SAQA Act, 1995. SAQA accredits all Education and Training Quality Assurance bodies (ETQAs) who, in turn, accredit Education and Training Providers. There are a number of advantages to becoming an accredited provider, including that the overall quality of education and training provision in South African is raised and maintained at a consistently high level. This means that the clients who use the services of that Education and Training Provider can be sure that the Provider complies with the required standards for learning and assessment services. It also means that all learners can be assured of a quality learning experience and that the credits and qualifications they achieve through the education and training service will be nationally and internationally recognised.

In addition, only accredited Education and Training Providers are able to deliver education and training that leads to nationally registered unit standards and qualifications. Accreditation therefore provides Education and Training Providers with a valuable tool with which they can market their services to potential clients.

Who should apply for accreditation at the LGSETA?

Providers who qualify for accreditation with LGSETA include those Providers who primarily offer programmes based on the qualifications and/or unit standards in the primary focus of LGSETA.

The primary focus of the LGSETA includes the following areas:

• Local Economic Development
• Public Finance Management and Administration
• Ward Committee Governance
• Leadership Development
• Fire and Rescue Operations
• Environmental Practice
• Local Government

Providers that are accredited by another ETQA but wish to offer education, training and development standards and qualifications belonging to LGSETA will be required to apply to have their programmes evaluated by the ETQA for accreditation purposes.

The LGSETA has been re-accredited until 31 March 2030.

LGSETA only accepts online applications for accreditation, programme approval, extension of scope, accreditation of skills programme or unit standards. Visit our online portal. https://www.lgsetaonline.org.za

Assessor/Moderator Registration

LGSETA only accepts online applications for assessors / Moderator registration:

• Re-registration of assessors and moderators where registration has lapsed
• New applications for assessors and moderators affiliated with a LGSETA accredited provider
• New applications for assessors and moderators affiliated with new training provider accreditation applications. https://www.lgsetaonline.org.za

Verification

The Purpose of verification is to confirm assessment decisions made by LGSETA accredited providers. The process includes verification of:

• Adherence to NQF principles of assessment(fairness, validity, reliability, practicability)
• Assessment and moderation quality management system
• Assessment process, methodology and instruments
• Internal moderation process, methodology, instruments and reports
• Completed assessments(sample)
• Assessment decisions

LGSETA only accepts online applications for verification of learner achievements. Visit our online portal. https://www.lgsetaonline.org.za

Transitioning from historically registered to occupational qualifications

The skills development system is transitioning from historically registered Unit Standard-based qualifications to new Occupational Qualifications that are in accordance with the requirements of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). In this transition, historically registered qualifications will be realigned into occupational qualifications or, if applicable, new occupational qualifications will be developed to replace Unit Standards-based qualifications. The majority of the traditionally registered qualifications in the local government sector will expire in 2023, creating pressure on the LGSETA to ensure they are realigned before their expiration.

We have made steady progress in this regard, and here are occupational qualifications already registered:

Qualification	NQF Level	Credits	NLRD No
Occupational Certificate: Electrician	4	360	91761
Occupational Certificate: Environmental Science Technician	6	467	99508
Occupational Certificate: Firefighter	4	149	98991
Occupational Certificate: Valuer (Municipal Property Assessor)	5	120	99700
Occupational Certificate: Water Infrastructure Manager	8	304	104623
Occupational Certificate: Water Process Controller	3	181	102255
Occupational Certificate: Water Reticulation Practitioner	4	236	102581

We are grateful for the kind support we received from sector bodies, labour organisations, professional bodies, skills development providers, the QCTO, and other stakeholders who assisted us on the development of these qualification. The LGSETA owes a debt of gratitude to these partners.

For all ETQA related matters, please contact your Provincial Office. Each Provincial Office has an ETQA Quality Assurer who is ready to be of service to you. Please check on the website to get their contact information