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

Apply 'best practice', mentoring, training and accountability in extension 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252895  Apply 'best practice', mentoring, training and accountability in extension 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Agricultural Extension 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Primary Agriculture 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  10 
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
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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The learner achieving this unit standard will be able to:
  • Apply 'best practice' to extension.
  • Apply mentoring to extension.
  • Coordinate the training of extension practitioners in an extension unit with supervision in a simple setting.
  • Participate in the management of established systems of accountability in an extension unit.
  • Manage quality control in an extension unit.
  • Create a cadre of extension practitioners who have the potential to become leaders/managers in extension organisations. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners attempting this unit standard should have the following knowledge in place:
  • Basic understanding of what 'best practice' in extension is.
  • Basic understanding of what mentoring is.
  • Basic understanding of what training is.
  • Basic understanding of what accountability is. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • 'Best practice': refers to but is not limited to theories, approaches and methods of extension which is relevant and appropriate to specific clientele and situations.
  • Extension unit: refers to but is not limited to all personnel in a ward(s) including extension practitioners and support staff.
  • Systems of accountability: refers to but is not limited to performance assessment, resource management, and customer care.
  • Simple setting: refers to but is not limited to one-on-one situations and small groups dealing within a narrow range of issues of moderate consequence. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Apply 'best practice' to extension. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principles and skills of 'best practice' are articulated to establish a framework for assessing extension situations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Extension situations are assessed, analysed and interpreted to determine the need for facilitating 'best practice' according to the established framework. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    An overall plan is developed to foster 'best practice' consistent with the assessment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Appropriate facilitation methods and tools for varied situations are selected and applied to foster 'best practice' according to the plan. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The plan is evaluated to measure improvement in extension practice according to set objectives. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Apply mentoring to extension. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principles and skills of mentoring are articulated to establish a framework for assessing extension situations to foster improved performance of staff. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Extension situations are assessed, analysed and interpreted to determine the need for mentoring to improve performance of staff according to the established framework. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    An overall mentoring plan is developed to improve performance of staff. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Appropriate mentoring methods and tools for varied situations are selected and applied to foster improved performance according to the plan. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The plan is evaluated to measure improvement in performance according to set objectives. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Coordinate the training of extension practitioners in an extension unit. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Extension situations are assessed to establish training needs and opportunities in the context of the extension unit's extension mandate and programme. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A training programme is developed to address the identified training needs and opportunities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Processes, systems and resources needed to implement the programme are established within the operational standards of the extension unit/organisation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Team members are authorised to complete the programme in compliance within the operational standards of the extension unit. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Performance is monitored and measured and adjustments made in accordance with agreed procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Establish a learning environment to foster best practice in extension. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A 'best practice' mission is defined with all the members in the extension unit/organisation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    ' Best practice' standards for the extension unit are negotiated through a consultative process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A learning forum is designed and established based on the principles of group dynamics and learning theory. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Forum includes but is not limited to discussion groups, conferences, seminars, counselling sessions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The learning forum is implemented according to the design to explore and evaluate progress toward the agreed 'best practice' standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Learning is recorded and communicated to all members of the extension unit in a manner that fosters 'best practice'. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed, (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • 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 
    A demonstrated understanding of:
  • Concepts: 'best practice', mentoring, training and accountability as they relate to extension.
  • Purposes of: 'best practice', mentoring, training and accountability as they relate to extension.
  • Characteristics of: 'best practice', mentoring, training and accountability as they relate to extension.
  • Relevance of 'best practice', mentoring, training and accountability as they relate to extension.
  • Effect of the appropriate/inappropriate choice of interventions and tools.
  • Environment and conservation legal and policy frameworks as they relate to human resources and skills development, etc. and legislation governing accountability, training and extension practice in the management of an extension unit.
  • Consequences of appropriate/inappropriate choices concerning 'best practice', mentoring, training and accountability in extension. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking to assess an extension unit. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others when participating on project teams. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organize and manage one-self and activities when participating as project team member. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect and organise information when delivering reports. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively and responsibly with stakeholders and the community and when reporting problem areas. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems when transferring technology from one entity to the other. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts when interacting and communicating with communities. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  59550   National Certificate: Agricultural Extension  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 


    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.
     
    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.