Overview of Southern Africa Christian Quality Accreditation Council?

The Southern Africa Christian Quality Accreditation Council (SACQAC) was establish as a Statutory Council for Christian, Theology and Religious Studies qualification and the custodian of its values and quality character.

The role of SACQAC, as stipulated in the draft legislation, is to advance the objectives of the NQF & THE REST OF AFRICA QUALITY FRAMEWORK, oversee the further development and implementation of the NQF IN SOUTH AFRICA, and co-ordinate the Sub-Frameworks. SACQAC’s functions are set out in draft legislation submitted to the South African Parliament to introduce, recommend and implement, which, in summary, mandates SACQAC to:

• Oversee Christian, Theology Religious studies qualification implementation and collaborate with the Quality Councils globally

• Develop and implement NQF & quality framework in the rest of Africa policies and criteria

• Register qualifications and part-qualifications on the NQF & the rest of  Southern Africa

• Recognize professional bodies and register professional designations

• Undertake research and collaborate with international counterparts

• Maintain the National/International Learners’ Records Database

• Provide an evaluation and advisory service with respect to foreign qualifications

• Inform the public about the NQF & the rest of Southern Africa Quality Framework

• Provide advice to the Minister of Higher Education and Training in South Africa & the rest of Southern Africa

Many countries all over the world are looking for better ways of educating their people and organizing their education and training systems so that they might gain the edge in an increasingly competitive economic global environment. Furthermore, the world is an ever-changing place, politically, geographically and technologically. Indeed, the rapid technological advances of the twentieth century have placed education systems under extreme pressure as they try to adapt and incorporate these changes in an effort to produce more creative, effective and adaptable people. Success, or even survival, in such a world demands that South Africa has a national education and training system that provides quality Christian, Theology and Religious learning education, is responsive to the ever-changing influences of the external environment and promotes the development of a nation that is committed to life-long learning.

SACQAC vision and aspirations

According to the initial vision for SACQAC is envisioned as Christian, Theology Religious studies qualifications framework for South Africa & the rest of Southern Africa, based on the principles of:

1. Inclusiveness of all Christian, Theology and Religious types of learning and levels of qualifications (all sub-systems of education and training);

2. Openness to learners’ and stakeholders’ needs, to policy learning and lessons from other qualifications frameworks; and

3. Innovation-readiness: notably the transformation of skills and learning in the context of digitalization & greening.

The objectives of the envisioned SACQAC are:

1. Contribute to comparability, quality and transparency of  Christian, Theology and Religious Studies qualifications and support people´s lifelong learning;

2. Facilitate recognition of degrees, diplomas and certificates, and support mobility (learners, workers, services);

3. Work in cooperation and complementarity with NQF & the rest of Southern Africa quality Framework etc. and support the creation of an African education and qualifications space;

4. Promote cooperation, referencing between qualifications frameworks (national and international) in Africa and worldwide.

BUILDING AFRICA THE AFRICAN WAY