Agriculture
(1) What formal training programmes and/or courses does his Department plan to offer to prospective students from January 2022 onwards;
(2) whether his Department has been accredited to offer these training programmes or is the Department still in the process of applying for accreditation to offer these programmes; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) (a) what is the minimum duration of the training programmes and (b) which quality assurance body or bodies would be issuing the certificates to students;
(4) whether his Department experienced delays in the issuing of certificates by any quality assurance body or bodies for training that concluded up to December 2020; if so, (a) what are the relevant details, (b) what is the number of students who were affected and (c) what has been the duration since the last assessments?
(1) The Department, through the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, will be offering the Baccalaureus in Agriculture (B.Agric degree) in collaboration with Stellenbosch University on NQF level 7, the Diploma in Agriculture on NQF level 6 and the Learnership Programme on NQF level 4.
(2) The Department, through the EATI, obtained accreditation for these training programmes. With regards the B.Agric degree, the accreditation at NQF Level 7 was by SAQA through Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of AgriScience, and where SAQA ID number: 116790 was issued as confirmation.
The Diploma in Agriculture, has also been accredited by SAQA on NQF level 6, and where SAQA ID number: 111084 has been issued.
The Learnership Programme on NQF levels 1 to 4 has been accredited by AgriSETA. The renewal of this accreditation, dated 27 May 2020, is valid until 31 March 2023.
(3) (a) The B.Agric degree, offered in collaboration with Stellenbosch University, on NQF level 7, is presented over a period of three years.
The Diploma in Agriculture, on NQF level 6, is also presented over a period of three years, of which the last year is dedicated to the student doing Work Integrated Learning (WIL).
The Learnership Programme on NQF levels 1 to 4 (level is dependent on the demand from applicants) is presented over a period of one year, inclusive of WIL.
(b) The certificate for the B.Agric degree, in collaboration with Stellenbosch University and the Diploma in Agriculture, are awarded by the institution/s. On the other hand, AgriSETA issues the certificates for the Learnership Programme.
(4) Yes, the Department experienced delays in the issuing of certificates, with details as follows:
(a) AgriSETA certificates:
2019 and 2020 Graduates:
AgriSETA requested additional information as they started a new information system. Documentation was submitted to AgriSETA. Learner profiles are in the process of being uploaded onto the AgriSETA database for certificates to be issued. In the interim, quality assurance processes allowed the EATI to issue internal certificates of competence to learners.
(b) 2019: 58 students and in 2020: 60 students
(c) The last assessment took place in December 2020
