(extracts from: umalusi.org.za)

UMALUSI's role in Education & Training

Umalusi council sets and monitors standards for general and further education & training in South Africa in accordance with National Qualifications Framework Act No.67 of 2008, and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No.58 of 2001.

Umalusi is currently responsible for the certification of the following qualifications in schools:

• Senior Certificate(SC) - continues as a revised qualification for adults
• National Senior Certificate(NSC) - replaced the SC in 2008

In order to issue learners with certificates that are credible, Umalusi

• Develops and evaluates qualifications and curricula to ensure that they are of the expected standard.
• Moderates assessment to ensure that it is fair, valid and reliable.
• Accredits providers of education and training, and assessment.
• Conducts research to ensure educational quality.
• Verifies the authenticity of certificates.

The name UMALUSI:

Umalusi takes care of one of the nation's most treasured assets - the standards of general and further education & training. Hence its name which means herder or shephard in Nguni language(a person who is the custodian of wealth).

Assessment

The main functions of this unit are to set standards for assessment of qualifications on the General and Further Education & Training Qualifications Framework and to ensure that assessment for certification in schools is of the required standard.
This is achieved through

• Development and implementation of assessment policies and directives.
• Moderation of the standards of exam papers.
• Moderation of the standards of internal papers.
• Monitoring the administration of national Exam marking process.
• Moderation of standard marking.
• Monitoring and verification of results.
• Standardisation of results.

UMALUSI
puts extensive measures in place to ensure that the internal assessment, which is carried at assessment sites and the exams conducted by state and private assessment bodies, are fair,reliable and valid.
It is also responsible for approving the release of results, a rather complex process. Approval is determined by how well the assessment bodies responsible for exams have complied with the policies, directives and guidelines related to the qualifications being resulted. These policies and directives are issued by Umalusi and the Department of Basic Education.
Approval is also dependent on whether any irregularities have undermined the credibility and integrity of the exams.

Masanganise B
UMALUSI committee member

---