Information and Guidance relating to the Review
of Unit Standards
Registered on the NQF of Namibia
NQA Council Resolution: 2010/03/25/7
Guidance On Review Of Unit Standards - NQA Council Resolution: 2010/03/25/7
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................... 3
Key terms................................................................................................... 4
Review of Unit Standards ......................................................................... 5
Reasons for a Review .......................................................................................................... 5
Conduct of a Review ............................................................................................................ 5
Review Categories for Unit Standards .................................................... 6
Impacts of Review Decisions ................................................................... 8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Impact of NQF Classification Category changes .......................................................... 8
Change in NQF Level ................................................................................................ 10
Change in NQF Credits .............................................................................................. 12
Change in Unit Standard Title .................................................................................... 12
Unit Standards withdrawn - no longer available ......................................................... 12
Review Reports ....................................................................................... 15
Maintenance (minor revision) of Unit Standards .................................. 17
Reasons for Maintenance................................................................................................... 17
Key steps ........................................................................................................................... 17
Some cautionary notes ....................................................................................................... 18
Rollover of Unit Standards ..................................................................... 19
Reasons for Rollover .......................................................................................................... 19
Key steps ........................................................................................................................... 19
Withdrawal of unit standards .............................................................................................. 20
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Introduction
Unit standards must be reviewed regularly – within five years of each registration. This is to ensure that
they remain „fit for purpose‟ – that they continue to specify the requirements to be met for any candidate to
be awarded the credits for that unit standard and thus receive formal „recognition‟ within the relevant
sector(s).
This requirement to be regularly reviewed is why an Anticipated Review Date is shown on the unit
standard document.
Both the body responsible for any unit standards and the NQA should monitor the „life‟ of any registered
unit standards. In particular, the NQA should alert any relevant standard setting body that the Anticipated
Review Date for a batch of registered unit standards (as shown in the text of the unit standard) is twelve
months away. The NQA should remind the particular body of the need for some „action‟ regarding the unit
standards – ideally that they are Reviewed as required in the NQF Regulations.
Unit standards do not expire if the Anticipated Review date passes by and there has been no review
action. The NQA, however, wishes the information shown on the NQF to be as accurate and current as
possible at all times. Thus, the NQA will prompt a Review or some other action before the Anticipated
Review Date approaches.
This booklet is intended to assist those bodies with a responsibility for unit standards in conducting the
Review of „their‟ unit standards. The booklet outlines some key activities that should be undertaken and
some of the things that the NQA will look at before any unit standard is re-registered on the NQF.
Whenever unit standards are reviewed there is a need to inform users (providers who have developed
courses learning materials aligned to them, etc, assessment designers and moderators, and employers).
Thus, all changes arising from a Review must be formally Reported.
Keeping the unit standards fit for purpose is important to ensure that assessments lead to certification that
is current and relevant. However, there are some consequences in maintaining the unit standards and the
NQF.
Because of their use within the NQF environment, changes to any unit standard can affect a number of
users, sometimes adversely. Though this may be a cost of keeping the requirements for certification upto-date, the consequences should be kept to a minimum.
This booklet, therefore, gives some background as to how changes to unit standards can affect other
users – and offers guidance on how the consequences can be minimized.
Growing awareness of the impact of Reviews of unit standards will likely lead to additions to the „good
practice guidance‟ given in this booklet. The NQA would thus welcome, at any time, comments on and
contributions towards this booklet.
Any comments or contributions may be sent to:
Qualifications Section
Namibia Qualifications Authority
Private Bag 13247
Windhoek
Namibia
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Key terms
There are three principal terms associated with the „life‟ of unit standards registered on the NQF. These
are:
Review
This refers to actions taken to ensure that the unit standards remain fit for
their intended purpose – that they:
 continue to represent significant abilities that need to be formally
recognized in Namibia separately from a complete qualification or as
significant components of a complete qualification, and
 continue to express the performance standards to be demonstrated and
the contexts in which the abilities must be demonstrated in order for
recognition to be given – i.e., NQF Credits be awarded.
A Review will result in the unit standards being:
 Re-registered on the NQF in their existing or an amended form, or
 withdrawn from the NQF as no longer being available for credit award.
A Review of unit standards requires analysis, consultation and endorsement
processes similar to those used in the initial development of the unit
standards. Feedback from users of the unit standards and arising from the
administration of the national assessment system or arrangements are key
sources of information used in the Review of the unit standards.
Reviewed unit standards must meet the Registration Criteria specified
in Annexure H of the NQF Regulations if they are to be re-registered on
the NQF.
Revision (or
Maintenance)
This refers to actions taken to rectify any inaccuracies in content that have
been identified by the NQA and/or the body responsible for the unit
standards but that have little bearing on the description of what is required
for NQF Credits to be awarded. Inaccuracies involving format and spelling,
etc, may also be corrected at any time.
Revision or maintenance does not lead to the unit standards being reregistered on the NQF. That is, there is no change to the Anticipated Review
Date shown on the unit standard document.
Rollover
In some cases, the Anticipated Review Date may have passed or is due to
pass shortly and the body responsible for the unit standards may not be in a
position to recommend re-registration or otherwise of the unit standards.
In such cases, the body responsible for the unit standards can request that
the NQA Council extend the Anticipated Review Date shown on the unit
standards. This would be the only change able to be made to the unit
standard documents unless „maintenance‟ actions are also carried out at the
same time as the Rollover is processed.
Key processes, requirements, and possible actions associated with each of these terms are described in
these Guidelines.
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Review of Unit Standards
Reasons for a Review
Unit standards must reflect the current performance requirements if reported abilities are to be accepted
by employers within the sector and other education and training and providers. They should not remain
registered on the NQF unless their ongoing fitness for their specific purposes has been confirmed by the
relevant national stakeholders.
It is for this reason that the NQF Regulations require that the unit standards be regularly reviewed within
five years of each registration “to ensure that they continue to specify requirements that reflect the current
needs of the sector(s) for which they are applicable”.
As a result of a formal consideration of the ongoing fitness for purpose of the unit standards, the unit
standards may be re-registered on the NQF and assigned a new Anticipated Review Date. Some of the
unit standards may be considered no longer needed and will be designated as needing to be removed
from the NQF. The possible results of a Review are further described in the next section of this booklet
with reference to the Review Categories.
The Body responsible for any unit standards must formally apply to the NQA for any unit standard to be
re-registered and/or withdrawn from the NQF.
This application must comply with Annexure F of the NQF Regulations of 2006.
Conduct of a Review
The Review of unit standards should follow processes similar to those followed in their initial development.
There should be a formal consideration that is inclusive of the engagement of the relevant national
stakeholders and their subsequent endorsement of the Review decisions.
The formal considerations:




must utilise any information arising from the review of any national assessment and/or
moderation arrangements
should utilize any information arising from comments made by appropriately accredited
providers, employers, candidates, and the public at large – thus there may be a need to notify
such users of the impending review and to request any feedback
must be cognizant of any technological, legal, economic and/or social developments in the
sector since the registration of the unit standards and/or that are anticipated in the near future,
and
may involve analysis workshops or other activities to derive or confirm required outcomes of
learning (abilities) and performance requirements (Performance Criteria and/or Range
Statements).
Before unit standards are re-registered the NQA shall conduct quality assurance processes similar to
those undertaken for the Registration of unit standards on the NQF. That is, the unit standards will be
given a Registration Check and, if there are amendments required to be considered by the body
responsible
for
the
unit
standards,
a
check
on
Compliance
with
this
Check.
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The checks undertaken by the NQA are to ensure that:





the unit standard documents continue to meet the Registration Criteria for Unit Standards as
specified in Annexure H of the NQF Regulations of 2006
a valid Review Category has been assigned to each unit standard
any new unit standards arising from the Review also meet the Registration Criteria
relevant stakeholders have been party to the Review and have indicated their agreement to the
outcomes of the Review, and
there are no excessive, adverse effects resulting from the outcomes of the Review.
Re-registration of unit standards requires a formal decision to be made by the NQA Council following a
consideration of all quality assurance check reports and the Review Report by the Council‟s Qualifications
Committee. Re-registration thus treats all unit standards as if they are „new‟ unit standards.
Review Categories for Unit Standards
The NQF Regulations of 2006 indicated that the NQA was in the process of determining Review
Categories that shall be assigned to signal different types of Review decisions. The Review Categories
shown in Table 1 are now to be applied:
Table 1 – Review Categories
Category
1
Description
No Changes at all are to be made to the unit
standard.
The unit standard has been deemed to
remain fit for purpose in its previously
registered form.
2
Changes have been made to the contents of
the unit standard BUT the changes do not
represent a significant change in the abilities
being described and/or the performances
required for credit to be awarded. Persons
gaining credit for the unit standard that
followed the Review are deemed to be the
equivalent of persons who gained credit
before the Review, regardless of the
changes made.
(If the unit standard previously described a
donkey able to plough, the Reviewed version
still describes a donkey able to plough – it
does not say an ox is needed).
Re-registration actions
A new Anticipated Review Date shall be
inserted onto the currently registered copy of
the unit standard.
The whole number of the Version Number on
the currently registered unit standard will be
increased by one. That is, Version 1.0 shall
become Version 2.0, Version 2.3 will
become Version 3.0.
The unit standard shall retain its Id number.
The unit standard shall be re-registered with
its existing Id number.
A new Anticipated Review Date shall be
inserted as proposed by the body
responsible for the unit standards in the
Application document.
The whole number of the Version Number on
the currently registered unit standard will be
increased by one. That is, Version 1.0 shall
become Version 2.0, Version 2.3 will
become Version 3.0.
Changes that could be described as
„maintenance‟ are included within this
Category.
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Category
3
Description
The unit standard is to be withdrawn from
the NQF BUT it will have a replacement or
replacements.
The changes represent such a significant
change in the abilities being described
and/or the performances required for credit
to be awarded that they must be represented
by a different unit standard or unit standards.
(If the unit standard previously described a
donkey able to plough, the sector now
believes that donkeys are no longer needed
– oxen are now needed)
Re-registration actions
The registered unit standard shall be marked
as Expiring on the relevant NQF information
systems. Information regarding the Id
number for any unit standard(s) replacing the
expiring unit standard will also be shown.
There will be no change made to the Id
number and Version Number of the
registered unit standard that is to expire.
The NQA shall publish the Review Report in
which a notification of the last date for credit
award is stated for the unit standard that is to
expire.
A last date for enrolment in related courses
should also be suggested in the Review
Report.
4
The unit standard is to be withdrawn from
the NQF and will not be replaced.
The unit standard describes an ability and
performance expectations that are no longer
required to be formally recognized in the
sector. For example there may no longer be
a need for recognition of any ability to Repair
typewriters.
When the last date for credit award has
passed, the NQA shall remove the unit
standard from the NQF and archive the
latest version of the unit standard.
The registered unit standard shall be marked
as Expiring on the relevant NQF information
systems.
There will be no change made to the Id
number and Version Number of the
registered unit standard that is to expire.
The NQA shall publish the Review Report in
which a notification of the last date for credit
award is stated.
A last date for enrolment in related courses
should also be suggested in the Review
Report.
When the last date for credit award has
passed, the NQA shall remove the unit
standard from the NQF and archive the
latest version of the unit standard.
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Impacts of Review Decisions
Review decisions could result in any or a combination of the following:





NQF Classification Category names might change – or the unit standards are shifted to a
different Domain or Subfield
NQF Level changes
NQF Credits allocated might change
Titles of the unit standards might change, and/or
Unit standards will be no longer be available for credits to be awarded.
The following sections give further details on the possible consequences of such decisions and provide
suggestions on how these consequences might be best handled in order to minimize any adverse
impacts.
1. Impact of NQF Classification Category changes
Any change of a Subfield or Domain in which a unit standard is registered, or to the name of the
Classification Category in which a unit standard is registered, could impact on:


the accreditation status of a currently accredited provider, and/or
the attainability of a registered unit standards-based qualification.
Impact on accreditation
Annexure B of the NQF Regulations of 2006 is useful background reading before any change to a
Classification Category is contemplated. This Annexure also contains the forms required to be completed
to request any changes to a Subfield or Domain.
It is possible for any provider to seek, as their scope of education services, accreditation from the NQA to
award credits for unit standards in a Classification Category or categories – most likely at a Domain level.
A change to a Classification Category resulting from a Review of unit standards could potentially take
away an accreditation from an accredited provider. For example:
Provider XXX has been granted accreditation only to award unit standards in the Domain Health
Services. This means that their accreditation would cover any additions of unit standards to this
Domain, even after their accreditation was granted. This is because the NQA Council was assured
that the course and assessment design and delivery mechanisms were sound for this whole subject
area, regardless of the specific outcomes of learning being developed and assessed.
As a result of a Review of unit standards, the Health standards-body have decided to shift all the
unit standards in this Domain to another existing Domain, that of Health - Core Skills – and have
asked that the Domain Health Services be deleted. (Note, they may have alternatively decided to
rename the Domain; Health Services to be Health - Core Skills).
This decision means that Provider XXX no longer has a valid scope of accreditation. The Domain that they
were accredited for no longer has unit standards in it able to be awarded – thus Provider XXX is able to
award nothing. They are not able to award the unit standards in the Domain Health-Core Services as their
accreditation granted by the NQA does not include this Domain.
Removing an accreditation is only something that the NQA Council may do after following section 27 of
the Accreditation Regulations of 2006. Thus, there must be some form of adjustment that will restore the
Provider‟s accreditation status to something equal to (but not better than) what it had been granted.
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In the example given, the Health standards-body has two main options available to it to recommend. It
could:
a) Recommend that any provider currently accredited for the Domain of Health Services shall have
their scope of accreditation amended to read Domain of ‘Health – Core Skills’.
This recommendation could, however, only be made if there was satisfaction that any provider‟s
course and assessment design and delivery systems – and facilities and staff – were also capable
of handling any unit standards that were previously in Health – Core Skills. These things may not
have been checked for when accreditation was considered by the NQA Council (likely with the
assistance of the Health standards body).
b) Recommend that any provider currently accredited for the Domain of Health Services shall have
their scope of accreditation amended to read „able to award the following unit standards:
<list of Unit Ids and Titles for all unit standards previously registered in the Domain of
Health Services>‟.
This recommendation would likely be a „safer‟ option as it does not assume assurances of quality
relating to any other unit standards being potentially awardable. However, if such amendments to
scope become too many, the Scope of Accreditation Certificate for any provider may start to look
„messy‟ (though the scope could be further re-stated during any re-accreditation process).
The Accreditation, Assessment and Audit section of the NQA should be consulted when the need for such
decisions arise as this section will be able to advise on a „preferred‟ option.
If the scope of accreditation of any accredited provider is amended under these provisions, the NQA shall
be required to re-issue any Scope of Accreditation Certificate(s) and amend the Register of Accredited
Providers.
Impact on qualifications
If the Classification Category in which unit standards are registered is changed or renamed, the
information in any registered qualification may become incorrect. Unit standards are listed in registered
qualifications within their Classification Category.
In such cases, the information in the qualification document needs to be updated – the unit standards
need to be placed in any new Domain and/or the Domain entry needs to be renamed. Both of these
actions do not likely change the composition of a qualification so could be treated as „qualification
maintenance‟ actions – and could perhaps be deferred until the scheduled Review of the qualification (this
would especially be the case if the Unit Id remains the same as it is the Id that would be used to check if
the requirements of a qualification have been met).
In some qualifications, credits required may not be specified by reference to Unit Ids and Titles but by
reference to a minimum number of credits from a Classification Category. For example, the rule for an
Elective Set of a qualification may read:
A minimum of 30 credits is required from the following Classifications:
Field:
Subfield:
Domains:
Health
Core Health
First Aid
Health Services
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If Domain: Health Services is renamed Health-Core Skills, then the qualification document needs to be
maintained.
If Domain: Health Services is deleted and the unit standards that were in that Domain are shifted to
another Domain (other than First Aid), and there are only 20 credits currently available in Domain: First
Aid, then the qualification becomes unattainable. A change must be made in a Review of the qualification
to restore the integrity (awardability) of the qualification.
The body responsible for the Review of the unit standards is responsible for monitoring the impact
on any qualifications for which it also has a responsibility. However, the NQA may have a greater
task as they must identify the impact on any other qualification that might be affected – and initiate
the required actions with the relevant qualification developer.
2. Change in NQF Level
Any increase in the NQF Level of any unit standard could have adverse impacts on:


the accreditation status of a currently accredited provider, and/or
the attainability of a registered unit standards-based qualification.
A decrease in the NQF Level of a unit standard is unlikely to have an impact on a provider‟s accreditation
but it could have a significant impact on a registered qualification.
Impact on accreditation
Just as a provider could specify their scope of accreditation in terms of being able to award credits in a
named Classification category they may also specify a NQF Level for this scope. For example, Provider
XXX in the earlier example may have sought and been granted accreditation to award all unit standards in
Domain: Health Services up to and including NQF Level 3.
If the Review of unit standards in this Domain results in one unit standard going from Level 3 to Level 4,
then the accreditation of Provider XXX has been affected. The provider‟s quality systems had been
previously checked out as being able to award the unit standard when it was at Level 3 but now it is
unable to award the unit standard as it is outside the scope of accreditation approved by the NQA Council.
Again, the Review has effectively taken an accreditation away without section 27 of the Accreditation
Regulations having been complied with.
In the Review Report, the following might, as an example, be recommended:
Providers currently accredited for a Scope that includes the Domain: Health Services up to and
including NQF Level 3 shall have their accreditation amended to include Unit xxxx (ie the one that
went from Level 3 to Level 4 during the Review).
The Accreditation, Assessment and Audit section of the NQA should be consulted when the need for such
decisions arise as this section will be able to advise on a „preferred‟ statement.
If the scope of accreditation is amended under these provisions, the NQA shall be required to re-issue any
Scope of Accreditation Certificate and amend the Register of Accredited Providers.
Impact on qualifications
The NQF Level of a registered Certificate or Diploma requires a certain minimum of credits at or above the
level of certification. For example, a Certificate at Level 3 requires at least 40 NQF Credits at or above
Level 3 on the NQF.
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An increase in NQF Level for any unit standard following a review could alter the level of certification.
Take the following as an example:
Qualification Y
NQF Level
NQF Credits
Required
1
10
2
15
3
20
4
38
Total
73
Qualification Y would be a Certificate at NQF Level 3 as there are insufficient (i.e., not more than 40) at
NQF Level 4 to be a Level 4 Certificate.
Let‟s assume that one of the unit standards listed as being Compulsory for the award of Qualification Y is
increased from NQF Level 3 to Level 4 as a result of a Review. The NQF Credit value of 8 credits for the
unit standard remains, however, unchanged. The following spread of credits would now be observed:
Qualification Y
NQF Level
NQF Credits
Required
1
10
2
15
3
12
4
46
Total
73
Note that the number of NQF Credits at NQF Level 3 has decreased by 8, and those for NQF Level 4 has
increased by 8 Credits. The qualification is now eligible to be called a Certificate at NQF Level 4 as there
40 or more NQF Credits at or above this Level.
In this situation (in fact, all situations where there is a change to unit standard Classification Category,
Title, Level or NQF Credit), there may need to be some maintenance actions undertaken on the relevant
qualification documents. Each qualification document must reflect the current information for any
registered unit standard. The maintained qualification will have to be re-registered on the NQF as a new
sub-version.
However, in the case of Qualification Y there may already be a Level 4 Certificate registered with the
same name. This will lead to some significant confusion – and there may need to be a Review of the
qualification in order to restore the previous order of there being a Level 3 and a Level 4 Certificate.
Similar consequences may arise if the NQF Level of a registered unit standard is decreased – a
Certificate at Level 3 may become a Certificate at Level 2 if there are now less than 40 NQF Credits at or
above Level 3.
Further, the qualification type could change as a result of a NQF Level change for a unit standard that has
been reviewed. A Certificate could, perhaps, become a Diploma (and vice versa). Again, there would need
to be a consideration by the standards-setting body and the NQA as to whether such a qualification
change was „sensible‟ within the sector and supported by earlier Rationale documents.
The body responsible for the Review of the unit standards is responsible for monitoring the impact
on any qualifications for which it also has a responsibility. However, the NQA may have a greater
task as they must identify the impact on any other qualification that might be affected – and initiate
the required actions with the relevant qualification developer.
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3. Change in NQF Credits
A change in the number of NQF Credits allocated to any unit standard will not have any impact on a
provider‟s accreditation.
However, a change in NQF Credit allocation may have consequences for registered qualifications. At a
minimum, the changes will require „maintenance‟ to be carried out on a qualification document to ensure
that the list of unit standards and their respective NQF Levels and NQF Credits correspond with the
registered version.
A decision may be required as to whether the maintenance of the qualification must be done immediately
or whether it can wait for the anticipated review of the qualification.
A decrease in NQF Credits allocated to a unit standard may alter the qualification type. A Diploma may,
for example, become a Certificate, and a Certificate may change its NQF Level. Worse still, a Certificate
may no longer be a NQF qualification as the total number of credits may fall below the 40 NQF Credits
threshold.
The body responsible for the Review of the unit standards is responsible for monitoring the impact
on any qualifications for which it also has a responsibility. However, the NQA may have a greater
task as they must identify the impact on any other qualification that might be affected – and initiate
the required actions with the relevant qualification developer.
4. Change in Unit Standard Title
A change in the Title of a unit standard will not have any impact on a provider‟s accreditation (unless the
Scope of Accreditation was listed as specified unit standards in which case consideration must be given
as to whether a new Scope of Accreditation Certificate needs to be issued – the Id of the unit standard will
remain valid and this may be sufficient for the Scope Certificate to remain „valid‟).
A change in Title of a unit standard may, however, require maintenance to be undertaken on any
registered qualification.
A decision may be required as to whether the maintenance of the qualification must be done immediately
or whether it can wait for the anticipated review of the qualification. The Id number of the unit standard will
not have changed and can still be the prime reference for determining if the requirements of the
qualification have been met before being awarded.
The body responsible for the Review of the unit standards is responsible for monitoring the impact
on any qualifications for which it also has a responsibility. However, the NQA may have a greater
task as they must identify the impact on any other qualification that might be affected – and initiate
the required actions with the relevant qualification developer.
5. Unit Standards withdrawn - no longer available
A decision that a registered unit standard is no longer needed on the NQF can have a number of
significant consequences. Impact may fall on learners currently studying towards assessment against a
registered unit standard, for the accredited provider(s), and for the integrity of qualification for which the
unit standard is listed as a component.
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Impact on learners
Time must be given for students currently enrolled in courses leading to their being eligible to enter
assessment for the award of the unit standard to complete these studies – and to be assessed. As there
will also likely be opportunities for re-assessment, time must also be allowed for this to also pass.
The NQF Credit Value assigned to a unit standard could be an indicator of the minimum time required
before a unit standard is declared as no longer being „awardable‟. Known course „start and finish‟ times
within the accredited providers will also be useful in determining the time at which credits may no longer
be awarded.
The final date on which credits may be awarded must be clearly stated – and notified to all
interested parties.
Care must also be taken to make allowances for accredited providers to make any required changes to
their courses to accommodate any withdrawal of a unit standard. For example, time may be required for
the development of new learning and assessment materials related to any unit standard(s) that replace a
unit standard that is withdrawn.
A date after which students may not be enrolled in courses related to the unit standard being
withdrawn must also be stated and notified.
Impact on accreditation
It is unlikely that the withdrawal of a unit standard will affect a provider‟s accreditation except where the
Scope of Accreditation mentioned that unit standard specifically. The expression of a „last date for
enrolment in courses related to this unit standard‟ in the Review Report will likely provide any affected
provider time to make adjustments to their scope of accreditation, should they wish this.
Where a withdrawn unit standard is replaced by others there may be little impact on accreditations,
especially if the replacements are at the same NQF Level and/or in the same Classification Category (see
earlier sections on consequences in these regards).
Action should be suggested that will make any affected provider at least in the same position as
before. The NQA shall check to ensure that fair consideration has been given to potentially
affected providers.
Impact on qualifications
It is common for registered qualifications to contain a statement similar to the one below:
Any version of a unit standard contained within this qualification which retains its original unit
standard identification number will continue to meet the requirements of this qualification.
Challenges may, however, arise where the Id number no longer remains valid.
The withdrawal of a unit standard Id must be reflected in the qualification document. Thus, qualification
maintenance actions, at least, will be required. The integrity of a qualification must be checked as any loss
of credit may alter the status and/or NQF Level of the qualification. Worse, a loss of credits may result in
the qualification ceasing to remain a NQF qualification. Thus, changes may be needed to the composition
of the qualification to restore its status. The earlier sections on the consequence of changes in NQF Level
and NQF Credit are applicable in these situations.
A person holding credits for a unit standard that is to be withdrawn could possible be adversely affected
by the withdrawal, particularly in situations where the withdrawn unit standard is replaced by one or more
other unit standards. It is likely that the withdrawn unit standard was listed as a qualification component
but is no longer able to be used towards completing that qualification.
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In such cases, there must be consideration given to what to do for current holders of the withdrawn unit
standard. Are they:


exempted from meeting the credits if the replacement unit standards become listed as
qualification components?
granted credit for those replacement unit standards?
A decision to grant credit must be exercised with caution as the holder of credits for the expired unit
standard did not meet the „new‟ requirements in the replacement(s). If credit is granted, the holder will be
able to use such credits to meet other qualifications that list the replacement unit standards as
components – yet the holder had not been assessed as being „at standard‟.
Where an exemption is allowed, a statement similar to the one below might be provided in the Review
Report and in the Transition Section of the relevant qualification(s) document:
This qualification contains unit standards that are replacements of earlier unit standards. For the
purposes of this qualification people who have gained credit for any of the expiring unit standard(s)
will be exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement unit standard(s).
Expiring unit standards
1984
4099
Replacement unit standards
18336 or 18337
4098 and 11552
It may be that credit exemption or transfer is not a valid option as the difference in the ability being
recognised through any relevant unit standard(s) may be just too great. Learners may, in these situations,
just have to seek assessment for credits for the replacement unit standard(s).
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Review Reports
An application for re-registration of unit standards following a Review must be accompanied by a Review
Report. This Review Report must be in a form that is able to be published by the NQA so that the
information contained in it is readily disseminated to all interested parties.
Once the NQA Council has deliberated on and agreed with the recommended actions arising from the
Review, the NQA shall publish any re-registration of the unit standards by way of General Notice in the
Government Gazette and through its website. The General Notice shall indicate that a Review Report is
available from the NQA. A copy of the Review Report shall also be made available through the NQA
website.
The Review Report must inform users of the unit standards on what changes (if any) resulted from the
consideration of ongoing fitness for purpose of the unit standards. Further, the Review Report must inform
the NQA of how any consequences of the Review decisions are to be or should be accommodated.
As a minimum, the Review Report must:








outline the Review process – what happened and who was involved
provide a rationale for any major changes – what were the „drivers‟ behind the decisions taken
include a Table of all unit standards included in the Review showing:
o the Id number and
o Review Category for each unit standard and, in bold,
o any changes to Classification Categories, Titles, NQF Levels or NQF Credits for each unit
standard
(refer to the examples of possible Table entries below)
indicate the Id number(s) and titles of any new unit standards that replace existing unit
standards that are recommended for withdrawal from the NQF
outline the qualifications-related transition arrangements to be applied for any unit standard that
is replaced by another unit standard(s) or that has been recommended for withdrawal
include information on how any impacts on provider accreditations should be handled
include information on Final Date for Credit Award and for entry to any course(s) related to any
unit standard that will be shown as expiring
include a list of qualifications that are known to have been affected by the decisions taken, with
a comment on what, in general terms, is likely to be done with those qualifications (ie, will they
themselves be Reviewed or have „maintenance‟ undertaken on the relevant document(s)?
Example of Entries in a Review Table within a Review Report
Id
19745
Review
Category
2
Classification Category
Automotive Wheelwright
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of
structures for wheels on vehicles
NQF
Level
NQF
Credit
2
3
3
5
Automotive – Core
Skills
In this case, there are potential impacts on the accreditation of providers and the attainability of registered
qualifications arising from the changes to the Classification Category and/or the NQF Level. Maintenance
of qualifications is also likely.
The change in NQF Credit value may affect the attainability and/or type of any registered qualification.
Again, maintenance of qualification documents is likely to be needed.
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Id
19746
Review
Category
3
Classification
Category
Automotive Wheelwright
Title
Change wheels on vehicles
NQF
Level
2
NQF
Credit
5
24567
Change pneumatic tyres on small
2
10
and large vehicles
In the above case, the suggested replacement of Unit 19746 would require the suggestion of a Final Date
for Credit Award and entry into related courses. Qualification transition requirements are likely to be
required so that people holding credits for 19746 are not unduly affected by its imminent expiry. There will
need to be some maintenance undertaken on the qualification documents where these transition
requirements are listed.
Because the replacement 24567 is in the same Classification Category as Unit 19746 and at the same
NQF Level, it is unlikely that any provider accreditation will be affected.
19747
4
Automotive Wheelwright
Change wagon wheels
2
5
In the above case, the suggested withdrawal of Unit 19747 requires the suggestion of a Final Date for
Credit Award and entry into related courses.
Maintenance will be required on any qualification document in which Unit 19474 is listed. A check will be
required that the loss of the 5 NQF Credits does not affect the integrity of any qualification.
Provider accreditation would only be affected if Unit 19747 was the only award listed in the Scope of
Accreditation.
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Maintenance (minor revision) of Unit Standards
Reasons for Maintenance
The NQA wishes to ensure that the unit standard documents in the public domain represent a high level of
technical and publishing correctness and accuracy at all times. This is to enhance the credibility of the
whole NQF system. Thus, the text of any registered unit standard may be maintained at anytime so long
as such maintenance does not represent a significant change to the unit standard – that is, it does not
represent a major change in the performance requirements from an earlier version of the relevant unit
standard.
Maintenance is therefore intended to remedy „errors‟ such as:




spelling mistakes
grammatical mistakes
format mistakes
transcription mistakes – i.e., any change to such things as NQF Level, NQF Credit, or text that
was agreed during the final stages of the quality assurance processes leading to registration but
that had not been effected as agreed.
Such actions can also be undertaken when Review Category 2 unit standards are submitted for reregistration on the NQF.
The need for Maintenance can be identified by the NQA (perhaps because attention was drawn to the unit
standards from a user or the public) and/or notified to the NQA by the body responsible for the unit
standards.
When unit standards are „maintained‟ their period of registration on the NQF is not extended. The
Anticipated Review Date will not be amended (except if Maintenance actions are undertaken at the time of
any approved Rollover of the unit standards).
A unit standard may not be withdrawn from the NQF as a result of Maintenance actions.
Key steps
When the need for Maintenance has been confirmed, the NQA shall:





check and/or confirm with the body responsible for the unit standards that the Maintenance is
needed or desirable
make the required changes to the text of the registered unit standard
amend the sub version of the unit standard – i.e., the whole number will not change. Thus,
Version 1.0 will become 1.1, etc but it cannot become Version 2.0)
notify the Maintenance of the unit standard to the NQA Council (though the actions do not
require approval)
confirm with the body responsible for the unit standard the Maintenance of the unit standard as
having been completed.
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Some cautionary notes
Excessive Maintenance of the unit standards should be avoided. A high sub-version number (eg 1.5) may
indicate a lack of care and attention during the quality assurance processes that led to the registration of
the unit standard. Therefore, Maintenance should not be a regular activity.
Agreement should be reached between the NQA and the body responsible for the unit standards that
Maintenance is really justified. It may be that the maintenance could be held over until the Review of the
unit standards. In essence, the question „Can the error be lived with for the time being?‟ should be central
to any consideration to the conduct of Maintenance.
Maintenance can be done at the same time as any approved Rollover of the unit standards.
Maintenance of the unit standard must retain compliance of the unit standard with the NQF Registration
Criteria.
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Rollover of Unit Standards
Reasons for Rollover
There may be some reason(s) why the body responsible for the unit standards is unable to conduct a
Review. For example, there may have been insufficient use of the unit standards. This might be indicated
by few credit results being reported, perhaps because there are few accredited providers. There may have
been delays in preparing any support materials relating to the unit standards – for example, common
assessment tasks or learning materials to assist providers develop candidates who meet the
performances described in the unit standards. There may, also, have been delays in establishing the
national assessment arrangements associated with the unit standards.
If the body responsible for the unit standards believes that any Review process may not generate the
required information to validly determine the ongoing fitness of the unit standards for their intended
purpose, the body may write to the NQA Council to request that the unit standards be „rolled over‟ – that
is, that the Anticipated Review Date be extended so that additional time is created for such information
necessary for an „informed‟ Review to become available.
Key steps
In its request, the body must give the NQA Council the reasons for the need for a Rollover. These reasons
must be reasonably compelling. If the unit standards have not been „used‟ the NQA Council may query
whether the unit standards are, in fact, needed in the sector. If the infrastructure for implementing and
managing the unit standard-based assessment and learning systems is not in place, the NQA Council
could query whether the body responsible for the unit standards is meeting its obligations for these actions
as described in the NQF Regulations.
The NQA Council may agree to the request or it may not agree. Should the Council agree to the Rollover:




the NQA will amend the Anticipated Review Date shown on each of the registered unit
standards. This new date will not be more than two years beyond the Anticipated Review Date
shown on the registered version of the unit standard
each unit standard will be sub re-versioned – that is, Version 1.0 will become 1.1, Version 1.3
will become 1.4, etc – but Version 2.3 cannot become Version 3.0
a notification will be published by the NQA that the unit standards have been Rolled Over, and
advising of the new Anticipated Review Date, and
the NQA will confirm the Rollover and the new Anticipated Review Date with the body
responsible for the unit standards.
The NQA Council will only agree to one request for a Rollover of any unit standards without their being a
Review (in a Review, the whole number in the Version number changes – ie, Version 1.0 becomes
Version 2.0, Version 3.2 becomes Version 4.0, etc).
Should the NQA Council not agree to the request for the Rollover of the unit standards, the body
responsible for the unit standards could:



appeal such a decision
initiate a Review of the unit standards, or
request that the unit standards be withdrawn from the NQF.
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If the latter, the body must indicate a date after which credits should no longer be awarded for the unit
standards. This date must be a reasonable time into the future (ideally not more than two years) so as to
allow any potential candidates who are in their training to complete their learning, be assessed, and have
any opportunities for reassessment as per the stated policies of the assessing body.
The body responsible for the unit standards must also give consideration to the Review of any registered
qualification that includes the unit standards requested for withdrawal in its composition.
Withdrawal of unit standards
Where the unit standards have been requested to be withdrawn from the NQF, the NQA shall:




mark the unit standards as „expiring‟ on the relevant NQF information systems
publish a notification of the last date for credit award
confirm the withdrawal with the body responsible for the unit standards
check if the relevant unit standards have not been listed in any registered qualification
developed by another body and initiate any actions necessary to ensure the integrity of any
such qualification.
When the last date for credit award has passed, the NQA shall remove the unit standards from the NQF
and archive the latest version of the unit standards. (This is to ensure that any later request to ascertain
what a „credit holder‟ was able to do can be met). No credit results for the unit standards concerned will be
acknowledged by the NQA if they are awarded after this date.
The suggestion by the body responsible for the unit standards of a „last date for enrolment in courses
related to this unit standard‟ will enable any affected provider to make adjustments to their courses, should
they wish this. It will also mean that the learning pathways of learners are not excessively disrupted.
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