
13 July 2010
The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has launched a career advice helpline to equip students with information to navigate work and study paths.
The helpline, which started to operate recently, will help students to increase their employability and manage their own career development, as well as provide a resource for career advisers.
‘Taking the next step’
A team of career guidance counsellors is in place to help students seeking advice on post-school opportunities.
“This means that anyone, for example, a learner needing to choose school subjects, a school leaver wanting to study further, or a working person wanting to switch to a different kind of work, can find the information and support to take the next step,” said SAQA Career Advice Services director Paul West.
Making a career choice is one of life’s most important decisions, said West, and it was therefore imperative that students had the necessary information and got advice before making their decision.
For assistance, call the helpline on 086 0111 673, e-mail the National Qualification Framework (NQF), or visit the NQF website.
Principles and guidelines
The South African Qualifications Authority board is a body of 22 members appointed by the ministers of education after consultation with the Minister of Labour. The members are nominated by identified national stakeholders in education and training.
One of their main objectives is to advance the objectives of the National Qualification Framework (NQF), a set of principles and guidelines by which records of learner achievement are registered to enable national recognition of acquired skills and knowledge, thereby ensuring an integrated system that encourages life-long learning.
The launch of the helpline follows the announcement made by Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande during his 2010/11 budget speech, where he announced that he had tasked SAQA with establishing a national career advice helpline.
An amount of R100-million has been allocated by the department for the project, which will be spent over a three-year period.
SAinfo reporter and BuaNews
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