Qualification Frauds Could Find Themselves Behind Bars

Lying about your qualifications could now lead to jail time, according to the new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Amendment Act which aims to prevent the misrepresentation of qualifications and fraud.

- Allison Cooper

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the NQF Amendment Act 12 of 2019 into law on 13 August and it was published for general information on 19 August. It will come into effect when it is promulgated in the Government Gazette.

According to Joe Samuels, the CEO of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which oversees the development and implementation of the NQF, the amendments were made to strengthen the NQF Act 2008 in terms of misrepresented and fraudulent qualifications. It also provides SAQA with the legal right to verify qualifications and part qualifications (an assessed unit of learning that is registered as part of a qualification).

“The NQF Amendment Act tightens the legal requirements and strengthens the hands of NQF bodies to inspire confidence in the education and training system,” said Samuels.

He explained that skills development providers now need to be registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training, which was not the case in the 2008 Act.

“The Amendment Act also brings with it some new and revised definitions to address the gaps and penalties for qualification fraud and education institutions and skills development providers that are not registered and accredited. The qualifications offered by these institutions and providers must be registered on the NQF.

“Ultimately, the amendments aim to protect the integrity of the South African education and training system and to address some of the challenges in our education system,” said Samuels.

Amending the Act