7 May 2002

To all Training Institutions, Nursing Colleges, Technikons, Universities and Stakeholders

 

Assessment of Learning Outcomes – A Paradigm Shift
***
The Urgent Need to Train Assessors in Generic Assessor Standards

 

INTRODUCTION

Much is changing in the area of assessment in South Africa. The development in education around outcomes based education, a radical shift from the previous knowledge and input based systems is an indication that assessment and the role of the assessor has to change as well.

The following statement describes the desired change from the assessment practice in the past to the present ethos of assessment.

Learning is no longer something that is “done to” the learner, but something that the learner is actively involved in. As such the role of the ASSESSOR has changed from being a “gatekeeper” who uses assessment to prevent learners from developing further, to a SUPPORTIVE GUIDE who has the success of the learner at heart – so that the learner can gain access to further learning

(SAQA 2001 Criteria and guidelines for the Registration of Assessors – Page 7)

 

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requires consistency of practice in relation to the assessment of National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Standards and Qualifications. For this reason generic assessment standards cutting across all the NQF fields have been developed. These generic assessor standards constitute the basic minimum requirement for all assessment leading to credits for standards or qualifications registered on the NQF. This therefore means that:

	all assessors must meet the requirements of the generic assessor standards; and
	subject specific assessors should meet criteria determined by the Education and Training Quality Assurance body (ETQA) registering the assessors.

For SAQA all practitioners who will be responsible for the assessment of the achievement of learning outcomes leading to qualifications and standards registered on the NQF should within a period of 3 years (i.e. by May 2004) become certified assessors and registered constituent assessors for specified qualifications and/or standards.

(SAQA 2001 – Criteria and guidelines for the registration of assessors – Page 13)

 

The South African Nursing Council as an accredited ETQA has a responsibility of:

ensuring that existing assessors are registered as assessors for nursing qualifications and standards.

In order to meet the above deadline, providers are urged to train existing assessors in generic assessment standards.

It is recommended that by the end of year 2002 each provider have at least two certified assessors.

 

For more information on the issue of assessment you are advised to acquaint yourselves with the content of the following SAQA document:

CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS
Documents are available on the internet at http://www.saqa.org.za
(N.B. : This document is no longer available)

 

For providers who have no access to the internet, contact the South African Nursing Council’s Communication Section, for attention:

Ms L Jele

Tel: (012) 420-1066
Fax: (012) 343-5400

Copies of the above documents will be posted to you on request.

 

A list of accredited providers for training in generic assessor standards can be found on the internet for your information.  These providers are accredited by the Education and Training Development Practices Sectoral Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA) ( http://www.etdpseta.org.za )

 

By December 2002, all providers should submit names of certificated assessors in their employment.

 

From January 2003 assessment of candidates for Recognition of Prior Learning should be done by nurse educators who are certified assessors.

 

Kind regards

 

Signed
Grace Ramadi (Dr)
for Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

7 May 2002

To all Training Institutions, Nursing Colleges, Technikons, Universities and Non-training Institutions

 

Distinguishing Devices: Increase in postage and price of Epaulettes

 

A copy of the new application form for distinguishing devices with the increased price on postage and epaulettes, effective from 01 June 2002, may be downloaded from the Council web site or printed copies may be obtained from the Council.

 

Signed
M M Mulder
for Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

8 April 2002

To all Nursing Education Institutions, Non-Training Institutions and Stakeholders

 

South African Nursing Council Recognition of Prior Learning Implementation Guidelines and Quality Assurance Standards (A Discussion Document)

 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is one of the central pillars of the  National Qualifications Framework and is seen as a mechanism for facilitating access to further learning as well as accelerated progression through qualifications for adults who may have creditable learning developed in contexts outside the formal education system.

These guidelines are intended to provide a framework for the implementation of RPL in the nursing profession.

Stakeholders are requested to comment and input into the document.

 

Inputs should be submitted to the Communication Section of Council on or before 6 June 2002, for attention:

Ms L Jele
Senior Communication Officer
Tel (012) 420-1066
Fax (012) 343-5400

 

Your co-operation in this regard will be highly appreciated.

 

Signed
Grace Ramadi (Dr)
for Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

28 March 2002

To all Training Institutions, Nursing Colleges, Technikons, Universities and Stakeholders

 

Education and Training of Nurses in HIV/AIDS Management

 

t has come to the attention of Council that although providers have been advised to include HIV/AIDS in the curriculi for both basic and post-basic programmes, there is no clarity regarding the content that should be taught.  As a result most of the nurses in the country have very little knowledge about this disease.  Providers are again requested to ensure that students and practising nurses are updated on issues of HIV/AIDS.

 

It is recommended that the subject content include the following topics:

	Awareness and basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the immune system
	Pathophysiology and epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in South Africa
	Diagnosis including voluntary counselling and testing
	Prevention and control of HIV
	Management of clinical manifestations of HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections
	Antiretroviral treatment
	Psychosocial economic issues and support
	Principles and strategies of behaviour change
	Palliative and homebased care
	Legal and ethical issues
	HIV/AIDS in the workplace
	Research based on clinical experiences of HIV/AIDS
	Care of caregivers

The following sources of information are recommended:

1.Fact sheet on HIV/AIDS a desktop reference
Compiled and edited for South Africa by:

The National Department of Health

The World Health Organisation

UNAIDS and

DENOSA (Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa)

 

This publication is available at the:

Department of Health, Pretoria

DENOSA – Head Office and all provincial offices

The South African Nursing Council

 

2. Nursing Curriculum

Developed in Sub-Saharan Africa in collaboration with the Baylor International Paediatric AIDS Initiative, Bayler College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Your co-operation in preparing nurses for this pandemic is appreciated.

Signed
Grace Ramadi
for Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

12 February 2002

To all Stakeholders and Council Members

 

Review of the Council Building names as part of Transformation and Conceptualisation of the South African Nursing Council (SANC)

 

The South African Nursing Council is in the process of reviewing the names of the South African Nursing Council building, committee rooms and other important structures within the building.

A resolution has been taken that the following compartments be renamed:

1. Constance Nothard Council Chamber on the 5th floor
2. Glass Box Committee room on the 5th floor
3. Museum on the 4th floor
4. Conference room on the 3rd floor
5. The complex on the 3rd floor allocated to Equity Project Plan
6. Lounge area on the 3rd floor
7. Examination room on the 2nd floor
8. Library on the 2nd floor
9. Sick bay on the 1st floor
10. Waiting area on the ground floor
11. Dining room
12. VIP dinning room
13. Garden

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATIONS

In order to facilitate the selection process, the following criteria will be used:

1. Outstanding achievers
2. Unacknowledged achievers
3. Gender balance
4. Race balance
5. Disability balance
6. Historical land mark within the SANC
7. People who have promoted human rights

 

Stakeholders are advised to complete the nomination form (that can be downloaded from this web site) and submit their nominations to the Communication Section of the South African Nursing Council, for attention:

Ms L Jele

Senior Communication Officer
Tel: (012) 420 1066
Fax: (012) 343 5400

 

The closing date for submission of inputs is 2nd April 2002.

 

Your co-operation in this regard will be appreciated.

7 December 2001

To all Nursing Education Institutions, Non-training Institutions and Stakeholders

 

NOTICE: Annual Licensing Fee Increase 2002

 

Government Gazette No. 7223 of 5 December 2001.

 

You are hereby notified that the annual licensing fee for 2002 is increased with effect from 6 December 2001 as follows:

Registered Nurses	R160,00	(R140.35 + R19,65 VAT)
Enrolled Nurses	R120,00	(R105,26 + R14,74 VAT)
Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries	R105,00	(R  92,11 + R12,89 VAT)

In respect of payments made prior to 6 December 2001:

1. Any person that has paid the annual fee prior to the above date will not have to pay the difference between the old and new fee.

2. Postal Fees: any fees paid via the postal service and the date on the article is before 6 December 2001 such person will not be expected to pay in the difference.

 

Payments through the Bank: all persons making payments to the bank from 6 December 2001 will be liable to pay the difference before an annual receipt will be issued.

 

Signed
Hasina Subedar
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

12 October 2001

To all Nursing Education Institutions, Non-training Institutions and Stakeholders

 

The East, Central and Southern African College of Nursing (ECSACON) 1st Quadrennial Meeting and 6th Scientific Conference, 6-10 August 2002

 

Copies of a pamphlet announcing the above event and inviting abstracts for paper and poster presentations on the theme “Nurses and Midwives Responding to the Health Challenges in the 21st Century” was circulated.

The Council has been unable to obtain copies of the pamphlet in electronic form at this stage and can therefore not include it on this web site.

 

Anyone who requires additional information can contact ECSACON directly.  The contact details are:

The Regional Secretary

Attention: The Coordinator
Human Resources Development and Capacity Building Programme
Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat
P O Box 1009,
Arusha
Tanzania

Tel: 255 27 250-4105/6

Fax: 255 27 250-4124

E-mail: hrdcb@crhcs.or.tz

12 October 2001

To all Nursing Schools

 

Arrangements for Examinations for Foreign Applicants

 

The foreign applicants who wish to be registered or enrolled with the South African Nursing Council are required to write an examination in Ethos and Professional Practice.

The examination for registered nurses was previously conducted by appointed colleges. These examinations are currently conducted by the Council.

Candidates who have attained entry to this examination may write the examination at an approved examination centre (See Annexure A below) of the Council, on the dates set out by the Council.

Arrangements are to be made with the Council, the candidate and the specific examination centre.

Examination dates for foreign candidates will coincide with the scheduled dates for 2002, as reflected in the examination timetable for 2002.

 

NB    Foreign candidates who wish to write this examination in their country of origin, must stipulate this in their application. Such request will only be accommodated, if the candidate bears the total costs incurred, prior to the examination.

 

Signed
Mrs E Kaye-Petersen
Senior Manager: Professional Development Section
for Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

 

---

 

Annexure A

Approved Examination Centres for Foreign Applicants

Bloemfontein	Free State School of Nursing Private Bag X20520, Bloemfontein, 9300
Cape Town	Groote Schuur Hospital Private Bag, Observatory, 7935
Durban	King Edward VIII Nursing College Private Bag, Congela, 4013 McCord Hospital P O Box 37587, Overport, 4067
Eastern Cape	Eastern Cape Nursing College Private Bag 6047, Port Elizabeth, 6000 Umtata Hospital Private Bag X5014, Umtata, 5100
Kimberley	Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College Private Bag X5051, Kimberley, 8300
Pietersburg	Pietersburg Hospital Private Bag X9316, Pietersburg, 0700
Pretoria	S G Lourens Nursing College Private Bag X755, Pretoria, 0001

12 October 2001 To all Nursing Education Institutions, Non-Training Institutions and Stakeholders   South African Nursing Council Accreditation as an Education and Training Quality Assurance Body   The South African Nursing Council a statutory body constituted in accordance with and governed by the Nursing Act No. 50 of 1978 (as amended) is charged with the responsibility for the regulating of nursing education, training and practice. The South African Nursing Council has since 20 November 2000 been accredited as an Education and Training Quality Assurance Body (ETQA) in terms of 5(1)(a)(ii) of the South African Qualifications Authority Act No. 58 of 1995.  As an ETQA the South African Nursing Council is responsible for monitoring and auditing achievements in terms of the national standards or qualifications in nursing. The accreditation of the South African Nursing Council as an ETQA compliments the Councils existing statutory obligation and does not replace its existing role and function. The reason the South African Nursing Council has applied for accreditation, as an ETQA, is to bring nursing education in line with the National Qualifications Framework.  The functions of an ETQA are functions that the South African Nursing Council has always been responsible for.  The functions highlighted in bold/blue are additional functions that the South African Nursing Council will execute as an ETQA: Accredit providers of nursing programmes; Promote quality amongst constituent providers; Monitoring of nursing programmes; Evaluating assessment and facilitating moderation amongst constituent providers; Registering assessors; The certification of learners; Co-operating with relevant moderating bodies; Recommending new standards or qualifications to National Standards Bodies or modifications to existing standards and qualifications; Maintaining a database; Submitting reports to SAQA   The South African Nursing Council will keep you informed of any new procedures or requirements that will be put in place to meet the above obligation.   Your co-operation and assistance in this regard will be appreciated.   Signed Hasina Subedar Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005) Disclaimer

12 October 2001

To all Nursing Education Institutions, Non Training Institutions and Stakeholders

 

Amendment to Circular 18/99 dated 13 December 1999
Transformation of Nursing Education and Training in South Africa

 

Section 1 of the above circular is hereby replaced by the following paragraphs:

1(a)   CONTINUATION OF ENROLLED NURSE TRAINING

The education and training of the enrolled nurses and enrolled auxiliary nurses categories should continue in order to meet the health needs of the population of South Africa.

 

1(b)   INCREASING ACCESS, MOBILITY AND CAREER PATHING WITHIN NURSING EDUCATION

Requirements for entry into nursing programmes

	The present enrolled nurses and enrolled nursing auxiliaries should have access into the 4 year comprehensive diploma/degree programme and any other programme leading to registration as a nurse by applying the principles of recognition of prior learning (RPL).
	The Standard 10 certificate or its equivalent should not be the only requirement for entering into the basic nursing education training programmes.  Recognition of Prior Learning should be implemented to access candidates to education and training.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Signed
Dr G Ramadi
for Registrar and Chief Executive Officer