20 June 2023

TO:        NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

               PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

               NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (NEIs)

               ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT – PRESCRIBED LECTURER: STUDENT RATIOS FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF NURSES

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this circular is to share with the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and relevant stakeholders about the revised Lecturer: Student Ratios in facilitation of theory and Work Integrated Learning (WIL).

2. BACKGROUND

2.1     The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is a statutory body which functions in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005). It has a responsibility to establish, improve, monitor and control the conditions, standards and quality of Nursing Education & Training and Practice within the ambit of the Nursing Act and any other applicable laws.

2.2   The SANC engaged with Education and Training Stakeholders regarding the issue of                          Lecturer: Student Ratios because of the view that the current ratios are inadequate to meet the needs of the country and many students currently being admitted to higher education studies. It was also indicated that Nursing education and training has become very expensive considering that an increase in the number of students requires simultaneous increase in the number of Lecturers and other resources to ensure quality education and training. The benchmarking exercise was conducted with other countries including African countries in particular. Although there are variations, it became clear that other countries also have approved Lecturer: Student Ratios guidelines.

2.3     The Council deliberated on this matter in the ordinary meeting held on 30-31 March 2023 and resolved to approve the revised Lecturer: Student Ratios below.

Table 1 below depicts the revised ratios for undergraduate programmes for theory and Work Integrated Learning (WIL).

Table 1: Undergraduate programmes

Table 2 below depicts the revised ratios for Postgraduate Diploma programmes (Clinical and non-clinical) for theory and WIL.

Table 2: Postgraduate Diploma Nursing programmes

3. IMPLICATIONS

3.1       The Nursing Education Institutions must ensure that distribution of teaching workload is fair and realistic to ensure quality teaching. Other factors to be considered include e.g. the weighting of the modules in terms of credits.

3.2       Increase in student numbers is not automatic, Nursing Education Institutions must still apply for extension of accreditation scope as stipulated in Sub-regulation 7(1) of the Regulations Relating to Accreditation of Institutions as Nursing Education Institutions (Government Notice No. R.173 of 8 March 2013).

3.3       The Nursing Education Institution must have offered the programme for at least a year before applying for an increase in the number of students.

3.4       The Letter of Support is still required for utilization of clinical facilities in the public sector, especially where the clinical spaces are more than what was allocated.

3.5       The Memorandum of Agreement signed within the last five (05) years will still be valid except where the clinical placement spaces are increased more than what was approved in terms of the (MOA/MOU).

3.6       Situational analyses conducted within the last five (05) years are still valid except where there have been major changes in respect of the services offered.

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo – Deputy Registrar at (012) 420 1059 or on e-mail at: [email protected]

____________________

PROF NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

DATE:  ___________________     

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1June 2023

TO:        NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

               PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

               NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

               ALL STAKEHOLDERS

This Circular serves as confirmation of the South African Nursing Council’s fees and fines as stipulated in the Government Gazette published on 26 May 2023. 

1. ANNUAL FEES FOR 2024
   • NORMAL ANNUAL FEES

 The annual fees for the calendar year 2024 for different categories of Nurse Practitioners are provided in the table below:

• REDUCTIONS IN ANNUAL FEES FOR AGE 60 AND OVER

The Council has resolved to introduce reduced fees for Nurses 60 years of age and over as per the table below:

• 60 TO 64 YEARS OF AGE ON 1 JANUARY 2024 (25% REDUCTION)

• 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER ON 01 JANUARY 2024 (50% REDUCTION)

NB: To qualify for the discount amounts, Nurse Practitioners may be required to submit a certified copy of their identity document in order to confirm their age.

Notes:

• The annual fees for 2024 must be received by the SANC on or before 31 December 2023.
• The amounts in the tables above all include 15% VAT.

2. RESTORATION FEES FOR 2024

The restoration fees for different categories applicable from 1 January 2024 are shown in the following table.

Notes:

The reduced restoration fee only applies to a Nurse Practitioner:

• Who must have been removed from the register at his/her own request; or
• Who must be 60 years of age or older on 1 January 2024. However, this must be confirmed with the Council before paying the reduced amount.

3. VOLUNTARY REMOVAL

A Nurse Practitioner who no longer wishes to practise in South Africa or who is unemployed, may request, in writing, for a voluntary removal of his/her name from the register, by completing the form available from the SANC. If a voluntary removal is granted by the SANC, the Nurse Practitioner’s name will be removed accordingly on the 31^st of December of the year in which the application is received. Once removed, the Nurse Practitioner will no longer be required to pay annual fees while he/she is removed from the register.

If the Nurse Practitioner requires reinstatement onto the register, he/she will, in addition to paying the reduced restoration fee, be required to complete a Restoration Form which can be accessed from the SANC website, www.sanc.co.za. It must be noted that practising while not being registered is illegal.

4. CLOSING DATE FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL FEES

Please note that for the calendar year 2024, the closing date for the payment of annual fees is 31 December 2023. Payments must reach the SANC bank account on or before the closing date. You are, therefore, urged not to leave payment for the last minute to avoid problems associated with making payments at year end.

Remember: Bank transfers from non-FNB banks may take up to 3 working days and you are therefore advised to pay well in advance to meet the 31 December 2023 deadline.

5. OTHER FEES

Please note that Annual Nursing Education Institution fees are payable from the 01 October 2023 to the 31 December 2023. Other fees and fees payable by institutions will be applicable with effect from 01 January 2024.

6. PERSAL DEDUCTIONS

The signing of Resolution 3 of 2019 in September 2019 by the National Department of Health together with major trade unions in Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council (PHSDSBC), brought into effect the implementation of PERSAL deductions from the 2020 APC season for all employees falling under the scope of the PHSDSBC.

As a result of this agreement, affected Nurse Practitioners are urged not to pay the annual fees on their own as the employers are required to pay on their behalf in terms of Resolution 3 of 2019.  

7. eREGISTER

The SANC has made an eRegister facility available on the SANC website which can be utilised by employers to verify the registration status of all Nurse Practitioners in their employment. Employers are urged to utilise this facility in the absence of a physical Annual Practising Certificate (APC).

Visit: https://www.sanc.co.za/eRegister.aspx for more details.

8. COMMUNITY SERVICE PRACTITIONERS

Community Service Practitioners are not eligible to be issued with an APC, and therefore, should NOT pay annual fees. They MUST pay a conversion fee on completion of their Community Service in order to be registered as Nurse Practitioners using the REGFPRA registration fee code instead of ANLFEES (e.g. 12345678REGFPRA).

Yours sincerely

______________________________

PROF NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR AND CEO:

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL                 

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18 May 2023

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17 March 2023

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13 January 2023

TO:     National Department of Health

Provincial Departments of Health

Nursing Education Institutions

All Stakeholders

APPOINTMENT: REGISTRAR AND CEO OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof Ntombifikile Mtshali as the Registrar and CEO of the South African Nursing Council, by the Honorable Minister of Health Dr MJ Phaahla, in terms of Section 18(1) and (3) of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005) with effect from 01 March 2023.

Professor Mtshali is a recognised Nurse leader, academic and researcher.  She holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and brings extensive leadership experience in higher education to the table.

Prior to the current position she served as the Head of the Nursing Department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for Nursing and Midwifery at UKZN, Dean of Teaching and Learning in the College of Health at UKZN, Senior Manager Education and Training at the SANC, Lecturer and Associate Professor at UKZN. She served as the ICAP at Columbia University Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI) Manager in South Africa. During this period, she was seconded to the office of the Chief Nursing Officer in the National Department of Health, to provide technical support to public nursing colleges (PNC) that served as a pilot sites for the integration of PNC to higher education initiative. This initiative included developing and pilot-testing the country’s first National Policy on Nursing Education and Training.

In support of the WHO agenda Prof Mtshali provided technical support to Nursing Education Institutions in Congo Brazzaville, DRC, Eritrea, Lesotho, Rwanda, Seychelles, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Rwanda and Tanzania in developing and implementing competency-based curricula, and in building the capacity of Nurses educators as a visiting professor.

The South African Nursing Council welcomes Prof Mtshali and wishes her every success in her new tenure.

(Signed)

DR MC MOLEPO

CHAIRPERSON
SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

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6 February 2023

TO:     National Department of Health

Provincial Departments of Health

Nursing Education Institutions

All Stakeholders

SUBJECT: ADDENDUM TO CIRCULAR 14/2022 ON PROFESSIONAL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION PUBLISHED ON 8 NOVEMBER  2022

1. PURPOSE

To inform the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions, and relevant stakeholders about the Addendum on “Guidelines on Professional Entrance Examination for Professional Registration with the South African Nursing Council” to Circular 14/2022.

2. BACKGROUND

• Circular 14/2022 on Professional Entrance Examination was published on the 8^th  of November 2022 and it is also available on the SANC website, sanc.co.za . The “Guidelines on Professional Entrance Examination for Professional Registration with the South African Nursing Council” were not published at the same time with Circular 14/2022. It was indicated in the circular that the guidelines will be published on the SANC website and are now available on www.sanc.co.za/sanc-circulars/

• The attached Guidelines serve as an addendum to Circular 14/2022 and for ease of reference by all the stakeholders.

3. IMPLICATIONS

The Lecturers and student nurses should familiarise themselves with the content of these Guidelines on Professional Entrance Examination for Professional Registration with the South African Nursing Council in preparation of the said examination.

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms A Mnguni, Senior   Manager: Leaner Affairs at (012) 420 1065 or on e-mail at: [email protected].

Yours Sincerely

(Signed)

Ms SJ Nxumalo
Acting Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

13 December 2022

TO:     National Department of Health

Provincial Departments of Health

Nursing Education Institutions

All Stakeholders

SUBJECT:    PAYMENTS MADE BY THE NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

1.PURPOSE

1.1 To share information with the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and other relevant stakeholders on the following:

1.1.1 The concerns that the South African Nursing Council (SANC) is currently experiencing regarding the payments that are made by the Nursing Education Institutions without including their SANC Nursing Education Institution (NEI) number together with the payment code as a beneficiary/recipient reference number for the service(s) they are paying for.

1.1.2. The correct process to be followed by the Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) when making payment(s) to the South African Nursing Council.

2.BACKGROUND

2.1 Regulation No. R.170 of 8 March 2013 outlines Fees and Fines payable to the South African Nursing Council. The SANC has experienced a lot of challenges about identification and allocation of Fees and Fines deposited by the NEIs.

2.2 When a payment is made by an NEI without using the correct beneficiary/recipient reference number, it results in the payment being either incorrectly allocated or not being allocated at all in situations where the payment reference number has not been included. This causes delays in processing the request that the NEI may need from the SANC. Unfortunately, once the payment has been allocated it cannot be reallocated.

2.3 The payment process outlined below must always be followed by the NEIs and Nurse Practitioners to ensure that service delivery is not negatively affected and the NEIs or Nurse Practitioners are able to run their businesses without any interruptions.

3.PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE NEIs WHEN MAKING PAYMENTS

3.1 Methods of payment of Fees and Fines

      Fees and Fines may be paid to the Council using the following methods:

(a) Credit card or debit card in person at the offices of the Council;

(b) Cash deposited into the Council’s bank account;

(c) Internet transfer or other electronic banking means, provided that the payment is made into the Council’s bank account; or

(d) Any other method made available by the Council from time to time.

3.2 In respect of any payment mentioned in sub-regulation 1 of the Fees and Fines Regulations, the correct Council account number of the person for whom or organisation for which the payment is made, must be supplied together with the transaction type code for the required service(s).

3.3 The Council publishes a list of the valid transaction type codes mentioned in sub-regulation 2 of the Fees and Fines Regulations on its website, which may be revised from time to time according to the Council’s requirements.

3.4 In the case of a bank deposit, the account number and transaction type code mentioned in sub-regulation 2 of the Fees and Fines Regulations must be written in the place marked “Reference” on the deposit slip. In the case of Internet or other electronic payment systems, the reference number and transaction type code must be provided in the information which will appear on the Council’s bank statement.

3.5 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Fees and Fines Regulations, organisations wishing to make a single bulk payment must first contact the Council regarding the necessary arrangements to ensure that the payment is correctly allocated to the organisation.

3.6 Payments made in terms of paragraphs (b) and (c) of sub-regulation 1 of the Fees and Fines Regulations will be considered to have been paid on time only if the item appears on the Council’s bank statement with a transaction date before or on the due date for payment. No exceptions will be considered where transactions are dated after the due date. A person paying by Internet or other electronic banking must take into account the banking rules pertaining to the transaction date that will apply to such payment.

4.PAYMENT TYPE CODES FOR NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

4.1 The SANC uses the Reference Deposit Account for payment of Fees and Fines payable by our stakeholders. The reference consists of two parts:

4.1.1 Your Nursing Education Institution number – which is used to identify who the payment is from.

4.1.2 A payment type code (7 CAPITAL LETTERS) written immediately after the NEI Number – which is used for identifying what the payment is for.

4.2 The following line is an example of what a correct beneficiary/recipient reference should look like when the NEI makes a payment for examination fees:

S000EXAMFEE

(THIS IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE, THE NEI NUMBER QUOTED HERE IS FICTITIOUS AND SHOULD NOT BE USED)

In the example above, ‘S000‘ is the NEI number and ‘EXAMFEE´ is the payment type code.

PLEASE NOTE that the above reference is only an example, and you should not use the above details for making any payment.  You must use your own NEI number and choose the appropriate payment type code.

4.3 The Head of the NEI must ensure that payment of fees by their Provincial Department of Health or Head Office is made separately for each NEI/Campus and for each specific service.

4.4 The NEIs are humbly requested to ensure that correct payment reference numbers are used with all the payments that are made to the Council in order to avoid service delivery delays.

4.5 Listed in the table below are all the payment type codes that are in use at the SANC:

 PAYMENT TYPE CODES TO BE USED BY THE INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS OR COMPANIES

5.IMPLICATIONS OF INCORRECTLY REFERENCED/NON-REFERENCED PAYMENTS MADE BY NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

5.1 Payments that cannot be correctly allocated because of failure to comply with sub-regulations 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the Fees and Fines Regulations will be regarded as not received in time if there is a deadline by which the payment is due.

5.2 Taking into consideration Section 5.1 above, any Nursing Education Institution which fails to use a correct payment reference number must make another payment with the correct payment reference number and request a refund for incorrectly referenced payment. This has a negative impact on service delivery, and it must be avoided at all costs.

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Mr B Manganyi, Acting Manager: Revenue Collections and Sales at [email protected] or Tel: 012 420 1081.

(Signed)

Ms SJ Nxumalo
Acting Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

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8 November 2022

TO:     National Department of Health

Provincial Departments of Health

Nursing Education Institutions

All Stakeholders

SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION FOR PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

1. PURPOSE

 The purpose of this Circular is to share information with the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and all Stakeholders about the following matters pertaining to the Professional Entrance Examination conducted by the South African Nursing Council (SANC) for professional registration with the SANC:

• Professional Entrance Examination Guidelines;
• Examination to be written by International Nurses;
• Examination Centres; and
• Registration fee payable on completing the Professional Entrance Examination.

2. BACKGROUND

 The South African Nursing Council is a statutory body which functions in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), and has a responsibility to liaise and communicate with stakeholders on matters pertaining to the Nursing profession. With the introduction of Professional Entrance Examination, there is vital information to be shared as outlined below.

2.1 Professional Entrance Examination Guidelines

2.1.1      The South African Nursing Council held a consultative workshop with the education and training stakeholders on 19 July 2022 to discuss pertinent issues, including the Professional Entrance Examination Guidelines. Input was provided, consolidated and the guidelines were approved by Council in its ordinary meeting held on 22-23 September 2022.

The guidelines will be published on the SANC website in due course.

2.1.2      Students who have completed the summative/final examinations conducted by the NEIs towards registration in the categories “Professional Nurse and Midwife or General Nurse” will write the Professional Entrance Examination conducted by the SANC as from May 2023. The Professional Entrance Examination had already commenced in 2021 for students who have completed the final examination conducted by the NEIs leading to registration in the category “Auxiliary Nurse”.

2.1.3      Community Service Practitioners who graduated from Bachelor of Nursing (new programme) leading to registration as a Nurse and Midwife have individual choices on the month in which to write the Professional Entrance Examination, either in May or November, as long as the examination is written before they complete Community Service.

2.1.4      Students undergoing postgraduate Diplomas in Nursing will not write the Professional Entrance Examination until further notice.

2.2 Examination to be written by International Nurses and Refugees

2.2.1      The Council, at its meeting held on 22-23 September 2022, approved that with effect from 2023, International Nurses will write the same Professional Entrance Examination that is written by Nurses who underwent the Nursing programmes aligned to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub- Framework (HEQSF) in South Africa.

NB. This essentially amends sections 5.1.2 (relating to examination for foreign Nurses) and 6.1.5 of Circular 14/2020 issued in December 2020.

2.2.2      Notwithstanding other requirements, Refugees will be expected to write and be successful in all the summative/final examinations conducted by the NEIs, depending on the qualifications they intend to register with the SANC. Refugees will thereafter write the Professional Entrance Examination before they can be registered by the SANC.

2.3 Examination Centres

2.3.1      The SANC further consulted with the stakeholders on the issue of the Examination Centres since the students would have written and passed the summative/final examination that is conducted by the NEIs. The SANC noted that some NEIs were not willing to be Examination Centres for the Professional Entrance Examination conducted by the SANC. However, after thorough discussion, the Council in its meeting held on 22-23 September 2022, resolved that accredited NEIs should serve as Examination Centres in all the provinces for the 2023 Examination Cycle whilst the process of sourcing neutral venues by the SANC is underway. This implies that the Professional Entrance Examination will be conducted at the NEI where the student was enrolled for the programme for the examination cycle of 2023.

2.3.2      NEIs which are not registered with the SANC as Examination Centres but have students who are due to write the Professional Entrance Examination in 2023 should thus apply to become Examination Centres for 2023 Examination Cycle.

2.3.3      Students have a choice to select the examination month that suit their needs i.e., May or   November.

2.3.4      NEIs should submit the examination applications on behalf of the students who intend to write the May 2023 examination as published in the examination schedule of 2023. The person in charge of the NEI shall certify on the application form for admission to an examination, that the candidate is eligible for admission to the Professional Entrance Examination.

2.3.5      Students will be responsible to download the examination application form on the SANC website at www.sanc.co.za/sanc-services/ in case they choose to write the examination other than in May 2023. The form, together with proof of payment of the applicable examination fees, should be emailed to [email protected]. Part of the application form must be completed and signed by the Principal of the NEI of the applicable examination venue.

2.3.6      The students will be required to hand over the examination question paper after writing.

2.4 Registration fee payable on completion of the Professional Entrance Examination

2.4.1      In terms of Sub-regulation 2(1)(v) of the Regulations regarding Fees and Fines payable to the South African Nursing Council (Government Notice No.R.170 of 8 March 2013), “a registration fee (practitioner), is payable per category on application for registration as a practitioner”.

2.4.2      On successful completion of the Professional Entrance Examination, each student must pay the due registration fee in line with the Board Notice which is published a year in advance for all fees payable to the SANC. Registration fees for the year 2022 is R437-00 per category and for 2023, R790-00 per category. Only a student Nurse who is eligible to register as a Professional Nurse and Midwife pay registration fees for two categories. Proof of payment of registration fees must be accompanied by the fully completed registration application form, available on www.sanc.co.za/sanc-services/

3. IMPLICATIONS

NEIs should bring the contents of this circular to the attention of academic staff, students and Invigilators.

4. IMPLEMENTATION

This circular becomes implemented and valid on the date of issue. For any clarity seeking questions in respect of this circular, you are advised to contact Ms A. Mnguni, Senior Manager: Learner affairs at (012) 420 1065, email address [email protected]

(Signed)

Ms SJ Nxumalo
Acting Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

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1 November 2022

TO:     National Department of Health

Provincial Departments of Health

Nursing Education Institutions

All Stakeholders

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL – YEAR-END CLOSURE

The office of the South African Nursing Council will be closed for the year-end from Friday, 23 December 2022 at 12:00 midday, and re-open on Tuesday, 03 January 2023 at 08:00. Kindly note that on 23 December 2022, for operational reasons the gates will be closed at 11: 00 already.

Annual fees must be paid into the Council’s bank account on or before 31 December 2022 to avoid restoration fees – note that banks take up to three (3) days to clear payments and thus all bank electronic transfers need to be made by 23 December 2022 to ensure it reaches the SANC by 31 December 2022.

The SANC banking details are:

Name of bank:              First National Bank

Account number:        514 211 86 193

Branch code:                253145

Reference:         Person’s own SANC Reference Number followed by ANLFEES

Whilst waiting for the Annual Practising Certificate to be distributed by the SANC, the employer can verify the registration status of the practitioner through the SANC website by logging into the SANC eRegister at https://www.sanc.co.za/eRegister.htm. To do this, they will require the practitioner’s SANC reference number or Identity Number (ID No).

We wish you all the best over the holiday season, please stay safe and we look forward to working with you in 2023.

Kind regards

(Signed)

Ms SJ Nxumalo
Acting Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

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27 October 2022

To:      NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (NEIs)

ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT: POSITION OF SANC ON ARTICULATION FROM LEGACY TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS SUB-FRAMEWORK (HEQSF)-ALIGNED NURSING QUALIFICATIONS

1. PURPOSE

1.1     To share information with the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and other relevant stakeholders on the following:

1.1.1   Process followed by the South African Nursing Council (SANC) in determining the recommendations submitted to the Council on Higher Education (CHE) about articulation pathways for Nurses who trained under legacy qualifications;

1.1.2   Position of the SANC on Communiqué 1 of 2022 issued by the CHE; and

1.1.3   Position of the SANC on Communiqué 10 of 2022 issued by the CHE.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1    Process followed by the South African Nursing Council (SANC) in determining the recommendations submitted to the Council on Higher Education (CHE) on articulation pathways for Nurses who trained under legacy qualifications.

2.1.1    The legacy qualifications offered by the public and private Nursing colleges/schools were arbitrarily assigned on the NQF, based on the institutional type. When the new NQF Act No. 67 of 2008 was implemented, there was a need for alignment of higher educational qualifications nationally which happened between 2011 and 2015.  This includes Nursing qualifications acquired through universities. However, the public and private Nursing colleges/schools were left out of this process because they were not part of Higher Education at that time. This created a challenge for the Nurses who trained under legacy qualifications in terms of articulation to the new HEQSF-aligned Nursing qualifications. The SANC expressed concern about this omission through engagement with the CHE.

2.1.2   It is on the basis that the SANC initiated a gap analysis process to identify the similarities and differences between the legacy and HEQSF-aligned Nursing qualifications. The purpose of the exercise was to determine if there were gaps in learning content and programme outcomes of these Nursing qualifications, and if there were, how the gap would be bridged. The SANC conducted a three-day workshop from 3-5 March 2020. Nursing Education and Training stakeholders were represented at the workshop, namely, Forum of University Nursing Deans of South Africa (FUNDISA); the College Principals and Academic Staff of South Africa (CPASSA) and Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA). The findings of the workshop were to assist the SANC in mapping out articulation pathways for the Nurses who underwent the legacy qualifications.

2.1.3   The proposed recommendations emanating from the workshop on articulation pathways for the Nurses who trained under the legacy qualifications were approved by the Council of the SANC and submitted to the CHE for further consideration. The copy of the recommendations is available on request from the SANC.

2.1.4   A CHE Advisory Task Team was formed to deal with the SANC recommendations about articulation pathways for the Nurses who underwent the legacy qualifications. The SANC was represented at the CHE Advisory Task Team. The task team met several times and finally the CHE Advisory Task Team recommendations were presented to the Higher Education Quality Committee. After approval, the CHE issued Communiqué 1 of 2022.  

NB.     It must be emphasized that Communiqué 1 of 2022 didn’t include articulation pathways for Nurses who underwent the four-year comprehensive Diploma in line with Regulations Relating to the Approval of and the Minimum Requirements for the Education Training of a Nurse (General, Psychiatric and Community) and Midwife leading to Registration (Government Notice Regulation No.425 of February 1985 as amended).

                                                                                                NOR

For Nurses with a Diploma in Nursing with a one-year Midwifery qualification in line with Regulations for the course for the Diploma in Midwifery for registration as a Midwife (Government Notice Regulation No.22 of February 1975 as amended).

This was because the matter was still under discussion.

3. POSITION OF THE SANC ON COMMUNIQUE 1 OF 2022 ISSUED BY THE CHE

3.1       Much as the CHE has replaced Communiqué 1 of 2022 with Communiqué 10 of 2022, for the purpose of this circular, the position of the SANC will be articulated separately for Communiqué 1 and Communiqué 10.

3.2       The SANC is agreeable with the content of Communiqué 1 of 2022 because the SANC participated in the Advisory Task Team and the content of the Communiqué was in line with the SANC recommendations.

4. POSITION OF SANC ON COMMUNIQUÉ 10 OF 2022 ISSUED BY CHE

4.1       The SANC is agreeable with the decisions 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Communiqué 10 of 2022 because it is based on the content of Communiqué 1 of 2022.

4.2   The South African Nursing Council distances itself from the CHE Communiqué 10 of 2022 on articulation pathways (i.e. decisions 5, 6 and 7) as presented for Nurses who have graduated from the four-year comprehensive Diploma course and the General Nurses with one-year Midwifery qualification.

4.3       The SANC was not part of the discussions leading to decision 5, 6 and 7 of Communiqué 10 of 2022 after noticing that the discussions were derailed from the SANC recommendations and were not in the best interest of the Nursing profession.

5. IMPLICATIONS OF DECISIONS 5, 6 AND 7 OF COMMUNIQUÉ 10 OF 2022 ISSUED BY THE CHE

5.1       The larger pool of Registered Nurses who are eligible to access the postgraduate Diploma programmes are those that are affected by decisions 5, 6 and 7 of the CHE Communiqué 10 of 2022.

5.2       There will be a narrow pool of Nurses who are eligible to access postgraduate Diploma programmes directly.

5.3       There is currently an outcry on the shortage of Nurse Specialists and Midwife Specialists in South Africa. Should the Nursing Education Institutions not be able to train adequate Nurse Specialists and Midwife Specialists, it will exacerbate the shortage of this category.

6. WAY FORWARD

6.1     The Council of SANC ordinary meeting held on 22-23 September 2022 resolved that the matter should be escalated to the Executive Authority responsible for Health in South Africa for intervention. Feedback will be provided subsequently.

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms M Mzolo, Acting Senior Manager: Provider Affairs at (012) 420 1047 or on e-mail at: [email protected]

Yours Sincerely

(Signed)

MS SJ NXUMALO                                                                                                             

ACTING REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

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