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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

General Education and Training Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
57937  General Education and Training Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Hygiene & Cleaning Services 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
SERVICES - Services Sector Education and Training Authority  OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National Certificate  Field 11 - Services  Cleaning, Domestic, Hiring, Property and Rescue Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Regular-Unit Stds Based 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
20173  National Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning  Level 1  NQF Level 01  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

The primary purpose of this qualification is to develop in a learner, the foundational, practical and reflexive competencies required for a career in the Hygiene & Cleaning Services Industry.

Central to the qualification is the development of a culture of quality service and professionalism in a cleaning services environment. This qualification intends to produce cleaners who can find gainful employment in the cleaning industry.

This qualification will enable learners to access learning in a related field (e.g. Hospitality, Health Care, Wholesale and Retail, Food Production or Manufacturing etc), or a related branch of cleaning (e.g. Industrial, Hospital, Car Wash, Dry Cleaning and Laundry, Garden Services, Aircraft Cleaning or Textile Cleaning etc.).

Rationale:

The range of typical learners will include cleaners, team leaders, supervisors, temporary or relief cleaners and emerging entrepreneurs who currently, or who aspire, to operate in the cleaning industry at large.

It is recognised that Cleaning is a 'feeder' industry from which learners can move into other related sectors.

This qualification is designed as the first qualification in the learning pathway in the cleaning sector and is suited to the following occupations:
  • Cleaner.
  • Laundry assistant.
  • Car wash attendant.
  • Garden services.
  • Relief cleaner.
  • Room attendants.
  • Ward hostess.
  • Domestic worker.
  • Sculler.

    The second qualification in the sector is suited to the following occupations:
  • Specialist cleaners in the cleaning industry (notably Textile, Laundry, Industrial and Health Care Cleaning).
  • Team Leaders.
  • Care givers.

    Thereafter learners will access management qualifications, as they will assume positions of greater responsibility for the work of others in a team, company or organisation. They could move up to positions such as:
  • Municipal Waste/Environmental Health Officer.
  • Operations Manager in the Contract Cleaning Industry.
  • Laundry Manager.
  • Environmental Officer/Assembly Line Manufacturing.
  • Self-employment as independent cleaning contractor in the elective field of learning (e.g. Laundry, Contract Cleaning etc.).
  • Housekeeping Manager (Health Care Facilities, etc.).
  • Food Safety Officer (Food Production Facilities).
  • Internal auditor (quality systems) in the cleaning industry.

    This qualification will help to transform the Cleaning Services Industry by:
  • Learners continually improving and projecting a professional image.
  • Instilling a culture of awareness that a clean, hygienic and safe environment will improve the quality of life for all South Africans.
  • Promoting international/world class standards and best practice in the cleaning sector.

    The qualification aims to:
  • Allow employees within the industry to identify and pursue a career within the Hygiene and Cleaning Industry.
  • Provide a vehicle to enhance the dignity of workers in this industry and develop their sense of pride and job satisfaction.
  • Develop a better understanding of the industry amongst employees.
  • Enhance a code of ethics that includes viable and sustainable environmental management practices.
  • Provide consistent quality and safety standards.
  • Educate learners, clients and society at large about hygiene, for the purpose of improving general health by implementing best practice cleaning methods.
  • Expose aspirant entrepreneurs to opportunities to enter the formalised cleaning industry thus stimulating the economy. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    As this is an NQF Level 1 qualification, and therefore the starting point of a career and of training and development in the cleaning industry, no formal learning is assumed to be in place. It is preferable however that a learner accessing this qualification has attained competence in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at ABET Level 2 or the equivalent.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    This qualification can be achieved wholly or in part through the Recognition of Prior Learning.

    RPL is particularly relevant for the recognition of knowledge and skills acquired over many years in the workplace for those already employed but who have no formal qualification. RPL will allow those persons to accumulate credits against Unit Standards in this Qualification for what they already know and can do.

    The way in which prior learning will be assessed and/or determined will be agreed to jointly by the assessor and the learner in question. Use could be made of on-the-job tasks, the submission of a portfolio of evidence and summative assessment tools such as a written test. The techniques and tools that would be used for assessment of learners who have accessed the Qualification would be applicable to those wishing to undergo an RPL exercise.

    The emphasis in RPL must be to give the learner every opportunity to demonstrate competence in the Specific Outcomes of the Unit Standards and the Exit Level Outcomes of the Qualification. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    To be awarded the Qualification learners are required to obtain a minimum of 120 credits as detailed below.

    Fundamental Component:

    The Fundamental Component consists of Unit Standards in:
  • Mathematical Literacy at Level 1 to the value of 16 credits.
  • Communication at Level 1 to the value of 23 credits

    All Unit Standards in the Fundamental Component are compulsory.

    Core Component:

    The Core Component consists of Unit Standards to the value of 68 credits all of which are compulsory.

    Elective Component:

    The Elective Component consists of individual unit standards from which the learner must choose unit standards totalling a minimum of 13 credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Recognise the importance of a healthy lifestyle by accepting own responsibility for life skills and wellness including HIV/AIDS.
    2. Demonstrate understanding of the application of cleaning principles according to international/world class standards and best practice.
    3. Clean generalised areas using cleaning principles according to international/world class standards and best practice.
    4. Clean ablution areas using cleaning principles according to international/world class standards and best practice.
    5. Clean floors using cleaning principles according to international/world class standards and best practice.
    6. Demonstrate knowledge of and apply environmental awareness during the cleaning process.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

    The Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed throughout the individual Unit Standards. Any indication of how this can be done is indicated in each Unit Standard. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.
  • Health issues and their impact on the quality of life are understood in relation to self, family and community.
  • Personal financial planning is understood and performed using basic financial principles.

    2.
  • Work output is in line with specified cleaning requirements and quality principles.
  • Chemicals are used according to specified cleaning requirements and safety principles.
  • Customer requirements are met in accordance with service level expectations.

    3.
  • Above the floor surfaces inside a building are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.
  • Exterior areas around buildings are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.
  • Small kitchens are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.

    4.
  • Toilets and urinals are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.
  • Baths, showers and basins are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.
  • Restrooms fixtures and fittings are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.

    5.
  • Hard floors are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.
  • Resilient floors are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.
  • Textile floors are cleaned according to the surface type and best cleaning practice.

    6.
  • Waste is managed during the cleaning process according to environmental principles.
  • Environmental issues are understood in relation to the cleaning process and applicable regulations.

    Integrated assessment

    The assessment of competence in the cleaning industry needs to remain practical in nature, and should be conducted in the workplace, as far as possible.

    There is a need for two kinds of assessment:
  • Formative assessment: Ongoing formative assessment, aimed at the development of learners.
  • Summative assessment: In which it can be seen whether under real life working conditions and in the presence of an industry-based assessor, a learner is able to demonstrate competency against a particular unit standard. The summative assessment can also be used as a diagnostic assessment tool aimed at identifying the learner's skills gaps. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The competencies in this Qualification were compared with what are regarded by the South African industry as best practice internationally. The content of training offered by the following internationally renowned organisations was regarded as useful for the comparability exercise:
  • The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) courses which include the following:

    > Cleaning Basics A to Z Ref: 21016
    > Carpet Care/Hard Floor Care
    > Health Care Sanitation
    > Clean Room Training
    > The History of Sanitation - Ref: 10092
  • The International Association for Continuing Education and Training - IACET
  • The Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
    > Guideline for Hand Washing and Hospital Environmental
  • Swiss Cleaning Technology - ISBN Code: 3-908678-04-8
  • The Finnish Association of Cleaning Technology
  • European Legislation for the Cleaning and Maintenance Industry - International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) 2000

    Competencies contained in the above courses/programmes and legislations were used for the purposes of comparison but informed the Exit Level Outcomes of the Qualification, its constituent Unit Standards and their Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria. Learners accessing this Qualification should develop the same competencies as are offered to and that are demanded of workers in this sector internationally. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:

    This qualification articulates well with the National Certificate: Domestic Services, Level 1.

    Vertical Articulation:

    This qualification articulates vertically with:
  • National Certificate: Accommodation Service, Level 2, 14110.
  • National Certificate: Occupational Safety, Hygiene and Environment, Level 2, 48804. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this Qualification must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this Qualification must be accredited as a provider with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or by an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA, according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the Qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual Unit Standards as well as the integrated competence described in the Qualification.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this Qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors and moderators for this qualification should:
  • Be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Be in possession of a relevant qualification at NQF level 2 or higher. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    This qualification replaces qualification 20173, "National Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning", Level 1, 120 credits. 

    UNIT STANDARDS: 
      ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
    Core  243199  Clean above the floor surfaces  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  243206  Clean toilets and bathrooms  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
    Core  243189  Manage personal finances  Level 1  NQF Level 01  8 
    Core  243193  Practice good health and grooming habits  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  243195  Provide good customer service in a cleaning services environment  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  243197  Remove spots and spillages from carpets and upholstery  Level 1  NQF Level 01  5 
    Core  243194  Sweep floors  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  243204  Understand basic cleaning principles  Level 1  NQF Level 01  15 
    Core  243203  Use chemicals in the cleaning services environment  Level 1  NQF Level 01  8 
    Core  243201  Vacuum dry surfaces  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  243198  Wet mop floors  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Core  114936  Participate effectively in a team or group  Level 2  NQF Level 02  2 
    Fundamental  7464  Analyse cultural products and processes as representations of shape, space and time  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Fundamental  7451  Collect, analyse, use and communicate numerical data  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Fundamental  7449  Critically analyse how mathematics is used in social, political and economic relations  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Fundamental  14084  Demonstrate an understanding of and use the numbering system  Level 1  NQF Level 01  1 
    Fundamental  7463  Describe and represent objects and the environment in terms of shape, space, time and motion  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Fundamental  119635  Engage in a range of speaking/signing and listening interactions for a variety of purposes  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
    Fundamental  119631  Explore and use a variety of strategies to learn  Level 1  NQF Level 01  5 
    Fundamental  119640  Read/view and respond to a range of text types  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
    Fundamental  7461  Use maps to access and communicate information concerning routes, location and direction  Level 1  NQF Level 01  1 
    Fundamental  7447  Working with numbers in various contexts  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
    Fundamental  119636  Write/Sign for a variety of different purposes  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
    Elective  243202  Clean floors using a single disc machine  Level 1  NQF Level 01  8 
    Elective  243205  Clean kitchens  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
    Elective  243207  Clean windows  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  14659  Demonstrate an understanding of factors that contribute towards healthy living  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  14656  Demonstrate an understanding of sexuality and sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS  Level 1  NQF Level 01  5 
    Elective  229998  Explain and perform fall arrest techniques when working at height  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
    Elective  243191  Portray a professional image within a cleaning team  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Elective  9909  Identify and process waste  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
    Elective  229995  Install, use and perform basic rescues from fall arrest systems and implement the fall protection plan  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Elective  115091  Monitor compliance to safety, health and environmental requirements in a workplace  Level 2  NQF Level 02  2 
    Elective  230000  Perform a limited range of rope access tasks and rescues  Level 2  NQF Level 02  6 


    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.