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SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Education in Early Childhood Education 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
109006  Master of Education in Early Childhood Education 
ORIGINATOR
University of Mpumalanga 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 05 - Education, Training and Development  Early Childhood Development 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2019-02-13  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to produce graduates who can contribute to the development of knowledge at an advanced level such that they are prepared for advanced and specialised professional employment in the educational field. In this particular case, the focus is on early childhood education and the purpose is to support development in this crucial area of education.

Rationale:
Since the dissolution of the former colleges of education, the area of childhood education in South Africa has been rather slow in developing. However, recently, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) with the support of the European Union (EU) initiated a nationwide programme that aims to strengthen the childhood education sector, and the domain of childhood education has been prioritised as an area of education that needs specialist knowledge and capacity.

The Masters in Education in Early Childhood Education is designed to bolster the capacity for research of childhood education and to produce researchers with up-to-date knowledge of the field. This qualification is by research and learners entering this qualification will have obtained Honours qualification in which they will have been exposed to the latest ideas and practices in early childhood education. The aim is that graduates from this qualification will generate new knowledge in the field which will bring about improvement in our provision of early childhood education. We expect that enrolment will be relatively small initially as we have only two academic staff with Doctoral level qualifications. However, enrolment will increase as we appoint new staff and as our staff complete their Doctoral studies. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL will have a place in the selection of learners for the Masters and relevant experience will be taken into consideration. The experience will not replace the minimum requirement of an Honours (or Level 8 Bachelor's Degree), but could be used to support admissions in the case of a learner with a 50-60% pass.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirements for access to this qualification are:
  • Bachelor of Education Honours.
    Or
  • Bachelor of Education Honours in Early Childhood Development.
    Or
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Education in a cognate field of specialisation. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of a Research module at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Contributes to the development of knowledge at an advanced level.
    2. Prepare learners for advanced and specialised professional employment.
    3. Involve high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence.
    4. Deal with complex issues, both systematically and creatively, making sound judgments, using data and information.
    5. Communicate research outcomes clearly to specialists and non-specialists in the area of specialisation.
    6. Relate knowledge to the resolution of complex problems.
    7. Act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Generate new knowledge through the research project.
  • Demonstrate understanding of how new knowledge is generated, and be apply that understanding.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Develop high-level skills and advanced knowledge.
  • Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge that prepares for specialised employment.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Critically engage with relevant literature theories and practices in early childhood education.
  • Develop your voice and become an independent researcher.
  • Engage critically with the discipline and demonstrate intellectual independence.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Through the research project, learners will be exposed to complex situations that will require systematic and creative solutions.
  • Analyse data collected from which conclusions are drawn.
  • Demonstrate the capability to manage complex issues, of presenting argument and counter-argument, and arriving at a logical conclusion.
  • Analyse and interpret data and draw conclusions that are supported by the data.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Present internal seminars at which their presentation skills will be developed.
  • Develop their own written communication skills as they write drafts of the thesis.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate very well using academic discourse.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Analyse and interpret data in light of previous studies and existing information.
  • Demonstrate the ability to address and answer complex problems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Take full responsibility for planning town research and in this will gain experience in functioning independently.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessment of progress will be ongoing and based on the regular meetings between a learner and supervisor and the quarterly written reports.

    For this qualification, the final assessment is based on the thesis. Assessment will include two examiners, one of whom will be an external and independent examiner. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Around the world, Masters by Research only (not course work Masters) are similar in that they comprise an original and independent research project that results in a thesis that is examined by external experts.

    The University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom (UK) offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Education by research and its assessment is based on a thesis of no more than 40000 words. The goal of this MA is to prepare learners for high-level research in education. Research training programmes are available on a needs basis but they are not compulsory and carry no credits. The MA normally takes two years to complete.

    A similar qualification is offered at the University of York in the UK but the thesis length is given as about 25000 words.

    At Durham University in the UK, a similar qualification is offered with a thesis length of 50000 words.

    At the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, the MSc (R), indicating by research alone, and assessment by full thesis is offered.

    In summary, the MEd at UMP is directly comparable with Masters Degrees by full thesis offered internationally. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Education in Inclusive Education, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Education, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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.
     
    1. University of Mpumalanga 


    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.