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

Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of policies and conventions to environmental education 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
13646  Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of policies and conventions to environmental education 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Environmental Educators 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 05 - Education, Training and Development Adult Learning 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Numerous laws, policies and agreements exist to protect the environment. Knowing about these policies can help environmental educators to plan programmes that respond specifically to key environmental issues, and thus help to address the environmental crisis through education. Environmental education practitioners should also be informed about key elements of national education policy in order to develop relevant learning programmes. Knowledge of policies and legislation can help environmental educators to justify the significance of their programmes to stakeholders such as supervisors or sponsors.

This unit standard is for people working independently as environmental education practitioners. Work contexts may include environmental education centres, heritage sites, community education projects, environmental health and safety training programmes in industry or environmental projects within government departments or the NGO sector.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of key environmental policies to environmental education
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of key national education policies and initiatives to environmental education
  • Evaluate an environmental project or learning programme in the light of these environmental and educational policies 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The candidate will be required to demonstrate an FETC or RPL equivalent in order to gain access to the National Diploma in Environmental Education, Training and Development Practice (EETDP) (NQF Level 5) for which this is a core unit standard.

    This unit standard assumes that the candidate is either a practising environmental educator or training to become one. It assumes that the candidate has achieved unit standards outlined in the National Certificate in EETDP (NQF Level 5) or can demonstrate the RPL equivalent.

    The candidate should work towards this unit standard concurrently with the following Level 5 Diploma unit standards:
  • Design, organise and critically evaluate an original environmental learning programme
  • Critically evaluate a range of environmental learning programmes in different contexts
  • Develop original learning support materials for an environmental learning programme
  • Take action to address an environmental issue 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard requires the candidate to choose an environmental issue or focus and find out about relevant policies and legislation at national and international levels that can have a bearing on environmental education projects and programmes.

    At a global level, the candidate should find out about relevant United Nations policies and conventions, for example, on issues like pollution, biodiversity conservation and climate change.

    At a national level, the candidate should find reference to the issue in the National Environmental Management Act.

    The candidate should be aware of key elements of national education policy, such as the National Qualifications Framework and Curriculum 2005. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of key environmental policies 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of key environmental policies to environmental education. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The candidate demonstrates knowledge of key international policies and conventions relating to a particular environmental issue. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Choose one issue; consider in particular United Nations conventions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The candidate demonstrates knowledge of key national policies and legislation relating to an environmental issue. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    In particular relevant sections of the NEMA.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The candidate describes the relevance of environmental policies and legislation to environmental education. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Imperatives and opportunities.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of key national policies and initiatives 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of key national policies and initiatives to environmental education. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The candidate demonstrates knowledge of key principles of Curriculum 2005 and outcomes-based education. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Principles of OBE, critical outcomes, structure of Curriculum 2005.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The candidate demonstrates knowledge of the key features of the National Qualifications Framework. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Principles and structure of the NQF.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The candidate describes the relevance of education policies, programmes and legislation to environmental education. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Imperatives and opportunities; Key EE initiatives (e.g. the NEEP).
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Evaluate an environmental project or learning programme 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Evaluate an environmental project or learning programme in the light of these environmental and educational policies 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The candidate selects an environmental project or learning programme to assess, focusing on the particular environmental issue. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The candidate indicates the extent to which the project or learning programme reflects national and international environmental policies. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Imperatives and opportunities; learning programme goals, focus, methods.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The candidate indicates the extent to which the project or learning programme reflects national education policies. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Imperatives and opportunities; learning programme methods and approaches.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Accreditation and moderation options:

    Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

    Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.

    Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes, in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. For the most part, the possession or lack of this knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance.
  • Key features of United Nations and other key international environmental policies and conventions relating to the particular issue chosen
  • Key features of the NEMA and essential national environmental policies and legislation relating to the particular issue chosen
  • Key features of national education policies, programmes and legislation relating to environmental education, in particular aspects of Curriculum 2005, the National Qualifications Framework and the National Environmental Education Programme 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, symbolic and/or language skills in various modes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Participate as a responsible citizen in the life of local, national and global communities. 

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

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  22902   National Diploma: Environmental Education, Training and Development Practice  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  ETDP SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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.
     
    1. DELTA ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE NPC 


    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.