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

Advanced Certificate: Education: School Management and Leadership 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
73529  Advanced Certificate: Education: School Management and Leadership 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Education Management and Leadership 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
The individual Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary for each Learning Programme recorded against this qualification is shown in the table at the end of this report.  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Certificate  Field 05 - Education, Training and Development  Schooling 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Regular-Unit Stds Based 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 091/21  2021-07-01  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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The ACE (School Management and Leadership) does not qualify candidates as professional educators in schooling.

Its target audience is qualified educators who:
  • Are already members of the management team in schools, or ECD / ABET centers (as principal/deputy principal in chools or head of department or subject / learning area / phase leaders) but are either not qualified as managers or are qualified inappropriately; OR
  • Are heads of department or subject / learning area / phase specialists and would like to be principals/deputy principals; OR
  • Are heads of deparment or subject / learning area / phase leaders and would like to follow the education specialist career path.

    Departmental officials who wish to learn more about leadership and management of schools are not excluded from this qualifications but it is not directed at the needs of office-based educators specifically.

    Its purpose is to develop in these educators the fundamental knowledge, skills, and values/attitudes/attributes so that they can lead and manage schools effectively and contribute to improving the delivery of education across the school system. The programmes leading to the qualification should have an impact not only on individuals, but on the school as well as the system as a whole.

    Within this broad purpose, the more specific purposes are:
  • For principals/deputy principals and managers of ECD / ABET centres:
    To provide the leadership and management which enables the school to give every learner high quality education and which promotes the highest possible standards of achievement.
  • For HODs:
    To provide professional leadership and management for subject areas/learning areas/phase coordination to secure high quality teaching and effective use of resources and ensure improved standards of achievement for all learners.

    The ACE (School Management and Leadership) is conceived of as a form of continuing professional education which has the purpose of equipping educators for the positions they currently occupy, or enabling educators to move into an education management career path.

    The ACE (School Management and Leadership) can be used for upgrading from NQF level 5 to NQF level 6. However, it can also be used by educators with qualifications at NQF level 6 or above who wish to learn the fundamentals of school management and leadership.


    Rationale for the qualification

    The ACE is a level 6 qualification aimed at developing leadership and management competence for those in leadership positions in schools or ECD / ABET centres or those aspiring to such leadership positions.

    Current school management qualifications tend to concentrate predominantly on foundational knowledge about education management, rather than practical and reflexive management competence. In addition, many existing qualifications are not aligned either with individual or with national needs. Finally, the delivery and assessment of learners on most of the existing qualifications takes place removed from the site of practice and is often not informed by the practical realities on the ground.

    A new qualification is needed to develop both applied school leadership and management competence for the target learners and to set standards for practice-based assessment of this competence. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    This qualification assumes that the learner:
  • Is competent in the language of instruction of the provider
  • Has knowledge, skills and experience of teaching, learning and assessment in schools
  • Has some knowledge and practical experience of schools, the school system and the broader profession
  • Demonstrate basic computer literacy in school management (unit standard 115433).

    Recognition of prior learning

    The generic ACE qualification for Educators in Schooling (NLRD 20473) states:
    'This qualification may be achieved in part through the recognition of relevant prior learning and/or experience as a practitioner in one of the sub-fields of Education, Training and Development. For the purposes of recognising prior learning, providers are required to develop structured means for the assessment of individual candidates against the exit level outcomes on a case by case basis. Such procedures, and the assessment of individual cases, are subject to moderation by independent assessors.'

    This qualification is aligned with the generic ACE in allowing only part of the qualification to be achieved through recognition of prior learning, for the same reasons as advanced by the Schooling SGB. It goes further than the generic ACE, however, in stipulating which standards are available for assessment for recognition of prior learning, and which are not. A basic premise of this qualification is that the core unit standards cannot be disaggregated - they are interconnected, and must be taught and assessed together.

    The fundamental and elective unit standards may be achieved through assessment for recognition of prior learning:
  • Demonstrate basic computer literacy in school management.
  • Demonstrate effective language skills in school management and leadership.
  • Plan and conduct assessment.
  • Moderate assessment.
  • Mentor school managers and manage mentoring programmes in schools.

    The following unit standards (reflecting the core of the qualification and the means whereby it is assessed) may not be achieved through assessment for recognition of prior learning:
  • Develop a portfolio to demonstrate leadership and management competence.
  • Understand school leadership and management.
  • Lead and manage people.
  • Manage organizational systems and physical and financial resources.
  • Manage policy, planning, school development and governance.
  • Manage teaching and learning.
  • Lead and manage a learning area, subject or phase.

    The ACE may provide access to further study in a particular specialist area at Level 7. However, as stated in the Criteria for Recognition and Evaluation of Qualifications for Employment in Education (Government Gazette # 21565, 22 September 2000), 'It could be required of a student with an old 3-year DE and an ACE to do additional work in order to be admitted to the new B Ed Honours'. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
  • Fundamental component: All 10 credits are compulsory
  • Core component: All 96 credits are compulsory
  • Elective component: A minimum of 14 credits can be chosen from the selection of Unit Standards available. Please note that learners who choose the Unit Standard 115759 must have completed the Unit Standard ID 115753 because the prerequisite for moderation is assessment. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Fundamental learning
    1. Communication and literacy
    2. Computer literacy

    Core learning
    3. Understand school management and leadership
    4. Develop a portfolio
    5. Manage teaching and learning
    6. Manage policy, planning, and school development
    7. Lead and manage people
    8. Manage organizational systems and physical and financial resources. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.1 Demonstrate competence in the reading, writing, listening, speaking and communication skills necessary for effective management in schools.

    2.1 Use information and communication technology to improve professional and administrative efficiency.

    3.1 Apply a basic understanding of school management and leadership in South Africa to an evaluation of own management and leadership practices.

    4.1 Develop a reflective portfolio to present evidence of school management and leadership competence in the South African context.

    5.1 Demonstrate the following personal qualities:
  • A passionate interest in teaching and learning and an ability to encourage this in both staff and learners.
  • An ability to model good teaching and learning and lead by example.
  • High expectations for achievement and the ability to set stretching targets for the whole school community.
  • A commitment to enabling all learners to reach their full potential
    5.2 Manage the planning, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of teaching and learning to ensure quality learning for all in the context of national, provincial and school policy.
    5.3 Create, manage and sustain a safe, caring and disciplined environment and show commitment to following this through in the way in which teaching and learning is organized.
    5.4 Understand and be able to apply relevant content knowledge reflectively in the design, implementation and evaluation of teaching and learning and the organization of the school environment.

    6.1 Demonstrate the following personal qualities/abilities:
  • Ability to lead by example, and be a model of the values and vision of the school
  • An ability to think strategically
  • A commitment to following through the vision and mission in detailed planning for the day to day life of the school and its future direction
  • An ability to motivate and empower others to participate in the development of vision, school (or subject / learning area / phase) policies and plans, and carry these forward.
  • Commitment to cooperative governance of the school and involvement of parents, learners and the community
    6.2 Develop and communicate school (or subject / learning area / phase) values, vision, mission, policies and plans in a collaborative way and secure commitment to these.
    6.3 Develop and maintain sound working relationships with the SGB, as well as parents, learners, the community and the department. (This does not apply to Heads of Department or subject / learning area / phase leaders.)
    6.4 Understand and be able to apply reflectively relevant content knowledge in policy, planning, school (subject / learning area / phase) development and governance

    7.1 Demonstrate the following personal qualities:
  • Treats people fairly, equitably and with dignity and respect to create and maintain a positive school culture
  • Ability to challenge, influence and motivate others to achieve high goals
  • Commitment to democratic leadership and effective teamwork
  • Commitment to continuous professional development for self and all others within the school.
    7.2 Plan, allocate, support and evaluate work undertaken by groups, teams and individuals ensuring clear delegation of tasks and devolution of responsibilities.
    7.3 Develop the professional skills of groups and individuals to enhance their performance and that of the school.
    7.4 Create an environment conducive to collective bargaining, collaboration, negotiation and conflict resolution.
    7.5 Understand and be able to apply reflectively relevant content knowledge in leading and managing people.

    8.1 Demonstrate the following personal qualities/abilities:
  • Ability to seek and use information to guide judgement and decision-making
  • Integrity and fairness in managing resources
  • A systematic yet flexible approach to managing an organization
  • Ability to think creatively to anticipate and solve problems
  • Awareness of the critical importance of informal and formal means of communication in the running of an organization.
    8.2 Set up, implement, maintain and evaluate organizational systems for the management of the school (subject / learning area / phase), where possible making use of appropriate information and communication technology.
    8.3 Manage the financial resources of the school (subject / learning area / phase) in a transparent and accountable way.
    8.4 Understand and be able to apply reflectively relevant content knowledge and skills in the management of organizational systems, and physical and financial resources.

    Integrated assessment

    The integrated assessment strategy is based on the Norms and Standards for Educators (as regulated by the Department of Education on 4 February 2000) and the generic ACE for Educators in Schooling (as registered by SAQA on 10 October 2001, NLRD no 20473).

    1. In the assessment strategy as a whole, evidence must be demonstrated through a variety of options: case studies, problem-solving assignments, practice in simulated and in situ contexts, portfolios of resources and materials, projects, written and oral examinations. Options must be selected that are valid for the assessment of the different types of outcomes in the ACE (School Management and Leadership) - personal qualities, knowledge and skills.

    2. The assessment strategy should measure applied competence. In other words, it should assess whether school managers are able competently to engage in appropriate practices (practical competence), to understand the theoretical bases for these practices (foundational competence), and reflect on and improve their engagement in such practices (reflexive competence).

    3. It should measure the extent to which candidates have integrated the knowledge, skills, personal qualities taught and/or modelled through the different unit standards which make up the programme.

    4. Part of the assessment should include on-site assessment of practical competence in management, so that it can assess the extent to which school managers can work competently, flexibly, responsively and effectively in authentic organizational contexts.

    5. The following evidence is required for the demonstration of competence in school management:
    5.1 Assignments and/or examinations that provide evidence of ability to apply relevant knowledge to the reflective practice of management.
    5.2 Oral presentations (preferably in authentic contexts such as staff meetings, or parents' meetings) that provide evidence of communicative ability and understanding of concepts involved.
    5.3 Two or more work based projects capable of assessing the four core unit standards. Each project should be assessed on process as well as product, and be an authentic task.
    For example, developing, implementing and monitoring
  • A school/subject/departmental development plan
  • An administrative system
  • A professional development initiative
  • A budget and financial reporting system
  • A plan for improving the pastoral care and discipline in the school.
    5.4 A portfolio in which the school managers provide evidence from a variety of sources that they have the personal qualities and abilities required to lead and manage South African schools. This portfolio will also draw on the assessment tasks completed for the constituent unit standards in this qualification. When seen against the assessment of leadership and management competence completed at the outset of the programme (see the unit standard 'Understand school leadership and management'), the portfolio will provide a means to assess the impact of the programme on student learning.
    5.5 Evidence of peer assessment, self assessment, tutor assessment as well as on-site verification of practical management competence by an authorised verifier to the school/departmental office.

    6. The assessment criteria for the core and fundamental unit standards provide the framework for the development of more specific assessment criteria for judging the evidence listed in this section.

    7. It cannot be assumed that managers know how to develop a portfolio that demonstrates their competence in leadership and management. A unit standard has therefore been included in the qualification that will guide the development of a module to assist with this. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Together with the Norms and Standards for Educators (as regulated by the Department of Education on 4 February 2000); Qualifications from the Educators in Schooling SGB (registered by the SAQA Board, 10 October 2001); Education Management and Leadership Development (Draft policy framework from the Directorate Education, Management and Governance Development in the Department of Education, June 2004); A Draft Standards and Competence Framework for Leadership and Governance in Gauteng Schools (Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance); and Draft 4 ACE in School Management: Integrated Curriculum (Delta Foundation), the SGB has consulted:
  • National College for School Leadership (UK), February 2004, National Standards for Headteachers: Proposals for the revised standards, Consultation Document.
  • Scottish Executive, November 2002, Standard for Headship in Scotland
  • Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC), School Administrator Standards, http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/Departments/PD/CertKyAdminStand.html.
  • The Teacher Training Agency, July 1997, National Standards for Subject Leaders (Revised Draft), London: Teacher Training Agency. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    See assessment criteria and recognition of prior learning. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    School managers' results/performance should be moderated by one or more external moderators from other institutions. Moderators should report not only on the standard of candidates' achievement but also on the reliability and validity of the assessment methods and procedures in relation to the purpose and exit level outcomes of the qualification.

    Providers may use their own qualified staff as assessors. They may also utilise the services of tutors, departmental advisory service staff, fully qualified educators acting as mentors and outside assessment agencies.

    All of these assessors should be registered with the relevant ETQA and/or the accredited provider.

    Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this qualification must be accredited as a provider of this qualification through the Higher Education Quality Committee or the Education Training and Development Practices SETA. In addition, the Department of Education will evaluate for employment in education programmes leading to this qualification in terms of their alignment with the Norms and Standards for Educators, and their suitability for school managers in public schools. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    See moderation. 

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

    NOTES 
    The following elective unit standards could be added, when they are fully developed:
  • Evaluate the impact and quality of education, training and development using given evaluation instruments (Level 6)
  • Evaluate a learning intervention using given evaluation instruments (Level 5)
  • Manage a school in the environment of HIV and AIDS (Level 6) 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARDS: 
      ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
    Core  115440  Demonstrate effective language skills in school management and leadership  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  6 
    Core  115441  Understand school management and leadership in the South African context  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
    Core  115437  Lead and manage people  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  20 
    Core  115434  Manage organizational systems and physical and financial resources  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  20 
    Core  115439  Manage policy, planning, school development and governance  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  20 
    Core  115436  Manage teaching and learning  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  20 
    Fundamental  115438  Develop a portfolio to demonstrate school management and leadership competence  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  10 
    Elective  115753  Conduct outcomes-based assessment  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  15 
    Elective  115759  Conduct moderation of outcomes-based assessments  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  10 
    Elective  115435  Lead and manage a subject/learning area/phase  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  12 
    Elective  116810  Manage assessment in a learning organisation  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  10 
    Elective  116811  Manage learning at an education, training and development provider  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  10 
    Elective  115432  Mentor school managers and manage mentoring programmes in schools  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  12 


    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    LP ID Learning Programme Title Originator Pre-2009
    NQF Level    		 NQF Level Min Credits Learning Prog End Date Quality
    Assurance
    Functionary    		 NQF Sub-Framework
    48878  Advanced Certificate: Education (School Management and Leadership)  Generic Provider - Field 05  Level 6  NQF Level 06  120     ETDP SETA  OQSF 
    83406  Advanced Certificate: Education: Education Management and Leadership  Walter Sisulu University  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  120     CHE  HEQSF 
    80334  Advanced Certificate: Education: School Management and Leadership  University of Johannesburg  Level 6  NQF Level 06  120     CHE  HEQSF 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THESE LEARNING PROGRAMMES: 
    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.
     
    LP ID Learning Programme Title Accredited Provider
    83406  Advanced Certificate: Education: Education Management and Leadership  Walter Sisulu University  
    80334  Advanced Certificate: Education: School Management and Leadership  University of Johannesburg  


    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.