BUSINESS AND TRAINING
47
RPL recognised as the route
to the National Trade Test
By Sam Dubazana
Before, the only route available to take a National Trade Test was
for the candidate to have an N1, N2, or N3 qualification, and to
have worked in the industry according to section 28 of the repealed
Manpower Training Act of 1981.
Following the publication of the Criteria and
Guidelines for the Implementation of Artisan
Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) by the
Minister of Higher Education and Training in
Government Gazette No. 40691, dated 17 March
2017, notice No. 228, ARPL will be implemented on
a phased basis at accredited Trade Test Centres as
capacity develops and toolkits for particular trades
are approved by the National Artisan Moderation
Body (NAMB) per Trade Test Regulation 11(4).
knowledge and skills of a person are made visible,
mediated, and assessed for the purposes of alternative
access and admission, recognition and certification,
or further learning and development. “To, through
assessment, give credit to learning which has already
been acquired in different ways.”
Sam Dubazana
For more details about ARPL, Craig Pereira can be
contacted on 011 206 1113 or at [email protected]. PA
The phased implementation will be based on approved
toolkits for the legacy trades that appear on the
National Trade List published in Government Gazette
No. 35625, dated 31 August 2012. Where a toolkit
for a particular trade is not available, transitional
arrangements outlined in Regulation 11(5) of the Trade
Test Regulations will apply.
Whenever a toolkit for a particular trade has been
approved and is scheduled for implementation, a
circular will be issued by the director general to inform
stakeholders that the transitional arrangements for
specific trades will no longer apply for that particular
trade from a determined date.
Trade Test Centres that are accredited will be able to
apply for the approved ARPL toolkits from the NAMB for
the trade or trades for which they are accredited once
the toolkits are available.
WHAT IS RPL?
Recognition of Prior Learning is one of the principles
underpinning the objectives of the NQF. In the SAQA
publication Criteria and Guidelines for Assessment
of NQF registered Unit Standards and Qualifications
(October 2001), RPL is described as follows:
“Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)” means the
principles and processes through which the prior
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
Paul du Toit
Paul du Toit was awarded the
Certified Speaking Professional
designation by the National
Speakers Association in New York,
only the second African to receive
this. He has been speaking and
writing about customer service
since 1997. The author of three
books, Du Toit is the MD of
Congruence Training, specialising
in customer excellence and
presentation.
October 2017 Volume 23 I Number 8