INFORMATION OF INFORMATION SENT TO MEMBERS:
•    Week 1: 21 September:

We will address the important issue of South African Professional Hunters’ Training at one of our workshops at the PHASA Convention in November.

We will publish information and facts in e-newsletters between now and then, regarding issues pertaining to this important topic, which we hope will provide some clarity.  These will include, amongst others, information on the following:

•         The process to be followed at the PHASA Convention to allow for discussions, proposals and resolutions regarding professional hunters’ training;
•         The National Qualifications Framework (NQF), NQF levels, etc.;
•         SAQA Registered National Qualifications and more specifically the SAQA Registered Qualification for Further Education and Training: Professional Hunting;
•         SAQA Part-Qualification (An assessed unit of learning that is registered as part of a qualification);
•         The current South African Professional Hunters’ training system.

We encourage members to forward PHASA any queries they might have over the next few weeks regarding the issues covered in the e-newsletters, to be addressed.

•    Week 2: 28 September:
THE CURRENT PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS’ TRAINING SYSTEM

1.    There are currently 11 registered School Directors in South Africa.
A permit to qualify as a training provider for a professional hunting school (School Director), is being issued by the respective Provincial Nature Conservation Departments. Each province’s criteria is stipulated in it’s Nature Conservation legislation.

2.    The Duration of a PH School is a minimum of 10 continuous days.
Theoretical testing is being done by Provincial Nature Conservation officials, whilst the school director does the practical evaluation.
Should a school director be op the opinion that a candidate does not have enough experience to act as a professional hunter, the school director may prescribe the student to undertake a prescribed period of practical experience before as PH permit is being issued by Nature Conservation.  In such a case, the candidate need to prove to the School Director that he/she has complied with such practical experience.

Please feel free to send us any questions you might have in this regard.

•    Week 3: 5 October:
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK (NQF):

NQF, the integrated National Qualifications Framework provides a guideline, setting out the boundaries of a standardised qualification system.
SAQA, the South African Quality Authority retains overall responsibility for NQF development and implementation.
NQF levels are intended to award registered learners with national accreditation based on their skills and knowledge. Currently, there are eight NQF levels which fall into three sub-frameworks, of which number ‘3’ below pertains to professional hunting:
1.    HEQF: Certificates and degrees offered by Universities and private Higher Education and Training Institutions
2.    GFET:   Qualifications offered by schools, Further Education and Training Colleges and Adult Education Centres
3.    T&O: The current registered qualification for Further Education and Training: Professional Hunting falls within the Trades and Occupation group.
Trade and Occupation Qualifications can be offered by Accredited training providers or at the workplace.
In the next newsletter, we will supply more information regarding the difference between a National Occupational Qualification (full qualification) and the National Occupational Award (part qualification) referred to in ‘3’ above.

•    Week 4: 19 October 2012

In the e-newsletter dated 5 October, we have referred to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) sub-framework pertaining to professional hunting and that the current registered qualification for Further Education and Training: Professional Hunting, falls within the Trades and Occupation (T&O) group.

According to the NQF Act:
•    “ qualification” means a registered national qualification.
•    ‘‘part qualification’’ means an assessed unit of learning that is registered as part of a qualification;
Credits needed in order to obtain a Qualification or Part Qualification (1 Credit = 10 Notional Hours):
•    National (Occupational) Qualification:  >120 credits.
To achieve a level 4 full qualification a student must spend at least 1200 hours in study.
•    Part Qualification: Between 15 and 119 credits.
To achieve a "part qualification" the student must spend at least 150 hours of study.
The hours are divided into 70% practical work related or field study and 30% contact hours in class study.
We will give some information regarding the process of receiving “Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL)” in the next e-news.
Week 5:  26 October 2012
PH TRAINING:

To share all information available about Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL), will take much more space than we have available here and therefore we will, today, only concentrate on the most basic information:  
“RPL involves recognition – in various forms – of non-formal and informal learning that learners of all ages may have acquired in the course of their working lives or in participation in society and community activities outside formal places of learning”;

RPL can be used for different purposes, including:
RPL for access, i.e. for learners not meeting all entrance requirements;
RPL for credits, i.e. for workers, the unemployed and learners with acquired skills and knowledge that could be credited or certificated;
RPL for advancement, i.e. for working people that need new certification due to changing work environment;

RPL is not an assessment process only.  RPL may involve mediation to ensure that candidates are enabled to make the transition from using knowledge and skills in one workplace, to using the same knowledge and skills in another workplace.  Processes such as guidance, counseling and extended preparation for assessment may be included;

RPL is multi-contextual which means that how it takes shape may differ from context to context.  RPL processes in the hunting environment would be quite different from RPL performed in an academic environment;

When assessing candidates for RPL, they are assessed against appropriate Unit Standards and exit level outcomes of qualifications using assessment criteria;

Assessment of RPL learners can be on a one to one basis or even on group;
Learners who have matriculated do not have to repeat the FET language Unit Standards;
The CATHSSETA ETQA (Education and Training Quality Assurer) maintains a database of accredited Service Providers who offer specific qualifications, skills programmes and/or Unit Standards.   In addition PHASA will also give guidance in this regard;
Particular RPL Policies and Procedures, available from accredited Service Providers, are relevant for the initiation of the RPL as well as Learner Appeals processes.

PROFESSIONAL HUNTING SCHOOLS APPROVED BY NATURE CONSERVATION

MEMBERS OF PHASA

Contact the individual schools for information on course dates, duration, curricula and cost.