GUIDELINES - REGISTRATION AS AN ASSESSOR AND MODERATOR
Background
According to SAQA’s “Criteria and Guidelines for the Registration of Assessors” (available under the Documents section of www.saqa.org.za), an Assessor is an
individual who is responsible for the assessment of the achievement of learning outcomes.
The notion of the trainer being both the learning facilitator and the Assessor means that trainers who traditionally administered assessment in addition to
facilitating learning, can register as Assessors.
Who can register as an Assessor?
Assessors can be from various backgrounds:
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Trainers/teachers/lecturers
Colleagues/peers
Supervisors
Managers
Designated workplace Assessors
External Assessors, i.e. external to the learning site, be it the workplace or education and training provider’s site
Expertise required becoming an Assessor
Clearly, Assessors need to acquire certain skills and expertise in order to be competent Assessors. Generally, Assessors need expertise in the following areas:
Interpersonal Skills
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It is important for the Assessor to have good interpersonal skills and to be able to communicate effectively with learners. The assessor needs to establish a trusting
relationship with learners – not only so that they can perform optimally during an assessment, but also so that the learners will trust that the assessor has their
interests at heart, i.e. that:
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The assessment is fair
The assessor acts with integrity
The assessor maintains confidentiality
The assessment is conducted according to the principles of a good assessment
Subject Matter Expertise
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Assessors must be proficient in the subject matter of the learning area which they are assessing
They should be experts in their knowledge of the unit standard requirements or qualifications for which they are registered to assess
The assessor’s subject matter knowledge must be at least one level higher than the learner who is being assessed.
The Role of the Assessor
The role of the assessor (in terms of the learner) is to:
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Inform the learner of the requirements of the qualification or unit standard
Support and guide the learner in the collection of evidence
Help the learner plan for the assessment
Inform the learner about the timing of the assessment
Conduct the assessment and provide feedback
To be able to fulfil these roles the Assessor has to
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Become familiar with the qualification and the unit standards that he/she will be assessing
Plan and design the assessment (or source appropriate assessment methods and instruments and modify these if necessary)
Collect evidence of the learner’s performance in accordance with the relevant ETQA’s principles and policies
Evaluate and judge the evidence
Authenticate the evidence
Make an assessment decision, i.e. ‘competent, or not yet competent’
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Criteria for Registration as an Assessor with MICT SETA QA
The assessor should meet the following criteria:
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Must have been deemed competent and certified for the generic Assessor Unit Standard (Unit Standard 115753 – Conduct outcomes-based assessment) by an
ETDP Accredited Provider
Have the relevant subject matter expertise as stipulated in the qualification and/or have the endorsement of the relevant Professional Body
Be conducting assessments against qualifications/standards that fall within MICT SETA QA's scope (qualifications and unit standards within MICT SETA QA's
scope)
MICT SETA QA Assessor Registration Process
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Complete the MICT SETA QA Registration as an Assessor application forms
Attach all relevant and supporting documentation
Submit the original application form and copies of supporting documentation to the MICT SETA Quality Assurance Division
If you will be assessing any of the Professional Body/Quality Assurance Partners qualifications, you will need to attach a letter of recommendation from the
relevant Professional Body/Quality Assurance Partners with your application form
Certification
When the application form has been evaluated against the set criteria, Assessors will be notified in writing and issued with a registration certificate/letter,
registration number, code of conduct and requirements for continued registration.
Requirements for Continued Registration as an Assessor
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Contact details kept current
Adherence to the Code of Conduct
Keep abreast with amended Assessor standards
Participation in professional development workshops on an annual basis
Submission of recommendations regarding the revision of qualifications/standards (if applicable)
Compliance with moderation requirements
Providing reports based on MICT SETA QA requirements, as required.
Submission of learner achievements based on the stipulated requirements
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De-Registration Process
MICT SETA QA will de-register Assessors for the following reasons:
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If an Assessor has breached the code of conduct and compromised the integrity of the learner achievements
Where an assessor has assessed outside of the scope of registration
Where an assessor has requested de-registration
Should an Assessor be de-registered for mis-conduct, the following bodies or authorities will be informed:
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MICT SETA ’s Chief Executive Officer
South African Qualifications Authority
Department of Higher Education and Training
Any relevant ETQA’s
MICT SETA QA Appeals Process
Assessors who have been de-registered or have not been granted registration may appeal against the decision by:
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Submitting a written notice of appeal to the ETQA Senior Manager within 10 working days of the decision
The Appellant has a further 10 working days to submit a statement setting out the grounds for the appeal, accompanied by the relevant documentation, to the
ETQA Senior Manager
The appeal will be forwarded to Senior Manager who will consider the evidence and make decisions to either accept or reject the appellant’s claim
The Administrator ETQA will communicate the Senior Manager’s decision to the appellant in writing and thereafter, the appellant may submit a further appeal
to SAQA
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BACKGROUND
The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) Act, 1995, requires that education and training programmes and practices are based on Unit Standards
registered on the NQF, and where appropriate result in national qualifications on the NQF.
The act requires that education and training practices have internal and external assessment practices built into a quality assurance system. Moderation is a form
of assessment practice that falls within this quality assurance framework and the moderator ensures that the assessment process is consistent and fair, regardless
of the assessment methods used or the particular assessor who performed the assessment.
Who can register as a Moderator?
Moderators can be from various backgrounds:
 Trainers/teachers/lecturers
 Colleagues/peers
 Supervisors
 Managers
 Designated workplace assessors
 External assessors, i.e. external to the learning site, be it the workplace or education and training provider’s site
The Role of the Moderator
The role of the moderator is to:
 Ensure that the assessment process is consistent and fair
 Establish relevant systems (policies and procedures) in the organisation
 Moderate assessment practices
 Manage of assessment information
 Facilitate smooth communications between the different role players in assessment. (Advice, mentoring, conflict handling and coordination)
Criteria for Registration as a Moderator with the MICT SETA QA
The moderator should meet the following criteria:
 Must have been deemed competent and certified for the generic Assessor Unit Standard (No ASSMT 01 - Plan and Conduct Assessment of Leaning Outcomes)
by an ETDP Accredited Provider
 Must have been deemed competent and certified for the generic Moderator Unit Standard (115759 - Conduct Moderation of Outcomes-based Assessments
 Have the relevant subject matter expertise as stipulated in the qualification and/or Professional Body
 Moderate against qualifications/standards that fall within the MICT SETA QA's scope for qualifications and unit standards within the MICT SETA QA's scope)
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MICT SETA QA Moderator Registration Process
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Complete the MICT SETA QA Registration as a Moderator Application forms
Attach all relevant and supporting documentation
Submit the original application form and copies of supporting documentation
If you will be assessing any of the Professional Body/Quality Assurance Partners qualifications, you will need to attach a letter of recommendation from the
relevant Professional Body/Quality Assurance Partners with your application form
Certification
When the application form has been evaluated against the set criteria, Moderators will be notified in writing and issued with a registration certificate/letter,
registration number, Code of Conduct and requirements for continued registration.
Requirements for Continued Registration as Moderator
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Contact details kept current
Adherence of Code of Conduct
Keep abreast with amended Moderator Standards
Participation in professional development workshops on an annual basis
Submission of recommendations regarding the revision of qualifications/standards (as required)
Compliance with moderation requirements
Providing reports based on the MICT SETAQA requirements, as required
De-Registration Process
MICT SETA QA will de-register Moderators for the following reasons:
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If a moderator has breached the code of conduct and compromised the integrity of the learner achievements
Where a moderator has moderated outside of the scope of registration
If a moderator request de-registration.
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Should a Moderator be de-registered for mis-conduct, the following bodies or authorities will be informed:
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Senior Manager ETQA
South African Qualifications Authority
QCTO
Department of Higher Education and Training
Any relevant ETQA’s
MICT SETA QA Appeals Process
Moderators who have been de-registered or have not been granted registration may appeal against the decision by:
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Submitting a written notice of appeal to the Senior Manager ETQA within 10 working days of the decision
The Appellant has a further 10 working days to submit a statement setting out the grounds for the appeal, accompanied by the relevant documentation, to the
Senior Manager ETQA
The appeal will be forwarded to Senior Manager ETQA who will consider the evidence and make decisions to either accept or reject the appellant’s claim
The Administrator will communicate the Senior Manager ETQA’s decision to the appellant in writing and thereafter, the appellant may submit a further appeal
to SAQA/OCTO.
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