GUIDELINES - REGISTRATION AS AN ASSESSOR AND MODERATOR

Background

According to SAQA’s “Criteria and Guidelines for the Registration of Assessors” (available under the Documents section of an Assessor is an individual who is responsible for the assessment of the achievement of learning outcomes.

The notion of the trainer being both the learning facilitator and the Assessor means that trainers who traditionally administered assessment in addition to facilitating learning, can register as Assessors.

Who can register as an Assessor?

Assessors can be from various backgrounds:

  • Trainers/teachers/lecturers
  • Colleagues/peers
  • Supervisors
  • Managers
  • Designated workplace Assessors
  • External Assessors, i.e. external to the learning site, be it the workplace or education and training provider’s site

Expertise required becoming an Assessor

Clearly, Assessors need to acquire certain skills and expertise in order to be competent Assessors. Generally, Assessors need expertise in the following areas:

Interpersonal Skills

It is important for the Assessor to have good interpersonal skills and to be able to communicate effectively with learners. The assessor needs to establish a trusting relationship with learners – not only so that they can perform optimally during an assessment, but also so that the learners will trust that the assessor has their interests at heart, i.e. that:

  • The assessment is fair
  • The assessor acts with integrity
  • The assessor maintains confidentiality
  • The assessment is conducted according to the principles of a good assessment

Subject Matter Expertise

  • Assessors must be proficient in the subject matter of the learning area which they are assessing
  • They should be experts in their knowledge of the unit standard requirements or qualifications for which they are registered to assess
  • The assessor’s subject matter knowledge must be at least one level higher than the learner who is being assessed.

The Role of the Assessor

The role of the assessor (in terms of the learner) is to:

  • Inform the learner of the requirements of the qualification or unit standard
  • Support and guide the learner in the collection of evidence
  • Help the learner plan for the assessment
  • Inform the learner about the timing of the assessment
  • Conduct the assessment and provide feedback

To be able to fulfil these roles the Assessor has to

  • Become familiar with the qualification and the unit standards that he/she will be assessing
  • Plan and design the assessment (or source appropriate assessment methods and instruments and modify these if necessary)
  • Collect evidence of the learner’s performance in accordance with the relevant ETQA’s principles and policies
  • Evaluate and judge the evidence
  • Authenticate the evidence
  • Make an assessment decision, i.e. ‘competent, or not yet competent’

Criteria for Registration as an Assessor with MICT SETA QA

The assessor should meet the following criteria:

  • Must have been deemed competent and certified for the generic Assessor Unit Standard (Unit Standard 115753 – Conduct outcomes-based assessment) by an ETDP Accredited Provider
  • Have the relevant subject matter expertise as stipulated in the qualification and/or have the endorsement of the relevant Professional Body
  • Be conducting assessments against qualifications/standards that fall within MICT SETA QA's scope (qualifications and unit standards within MICT SETA QA's scope)

MICT SETA QA Assessor Registration Process

  • Complete the MICT SETA QA Registration as an Assessor application forms
  • Attach all relevant and supporting documentation
  • Submit the original application form and copies of supporting documentation to the MICT SETA Quality Assurance Division
  • If you will be assessing any of the Professional Body/Quality Assurance Partners qualifications, you will need to attach a letter of recommendation from the relevant Professional Body/Quality Assurance Partners with your application form

Certification

When the application form has been evaluated against the set criteria, Assessors will be notified in writing and issued with a registration certificate/letter, registration number, code of conduct and requirements for continued registration.

Requirements for Continued Registration as an Assessor

  • Contact details kept current
  • Adherence to the Code of Conduct
  • Keep abreast with amended Assessor standards
  • Participation in professional development workshops on an annual basis
  • Submission of recommendations regarding the revision of qualifications/standards (if applicable)
  • Compliance with moderation requirements
  • Providing reports based on MICT SETA QA requirements, as required.
  • Submission of learner achievements based on the stipulated requirements

De-Registration Process

MICT SETA QA will de-register Assessors for the following reasons:

  • If an Assessor has breached the code of conduct and compromised the integrity of the learner achievements
  • Where an assessor has assessed outside of the scope of registration
  • Where an assessor has requested de-registration

Should an Assessor be de-registered for mis-conduct, the following bodies or authorities will be informed:

  • MICT SETA ’s Chief Executive Officer
  • South African Qualifications Authority
  • Department of Higher Education and Training
  • Any relevant ETQA’s

MICT SETA QA Appeals Process

Assessors who have been de-registered or have not been granted registration may appeal against the decision by:

  • Submitting a written notice of appeal to the ETQA Senior Manager within 10 working days of the decision
  • The Appellant has a further 10 working days to submit a statement setting out the grounds for the appeal, accompanied by the relevant documentation, to the ETQA Senior Manager
  • The appeal will be forwarded to Senior Manager who will consider the evidence and make decisions to either accept or reject the appellant’s claim
  • The Administrator ETQA will communicate the Senior Manager’s decision to the appellant in writing and thereafter, the appellant may submit a further appeal to SAQA

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

BACKGROUND

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) Act, 1995, requires that education and training programmes and practices are based on Unit Standards registered on the NQF, and where appropriate result in national qualifications on the NQF.

The act requires that education and training practices have internal and external assessment practices built into a quality assurance system. Moderation is a form of assessment practice that falls within this quality assurance framework and the moderator ensures that the assessment process is consistent and fair, regardless of the assessment methods used or the particular assessor who performed the assessment.

Who can register as a Moderator?

Moderators can be from various backgrounds:

  • Trainers/teachers/lecturers
  • Colleagues/peers
  • Supervisors
  • Managers
  • Designated workplace assessors
  • External assessors, i.e. external to the learning site, be it the workplace or education and training provider’s site

The Role of the Moderator

The role of the moderator is to:

  • Ensure that the assessment process is consistent and fair
  • Establish relevant systems (policies and procedures) in the organisation
  • Moderate assessment practices
  • Manage of assessment information
  • Facilitate smooth communications between the different role players in assessment. (Advice, mentoring, conflict handling and coordination)

Criteria for Registration as a Moderator with the MICT SETA QA

The moderator should meet the following criteria:

  • Must have been deemed competent and certified for the generic Assessor Unit Standard (No ASSMT 01 - Plan and Conduct Assessment of Leaning Outcomes) by an ETDP Accredited Provider
  • Must have been deemed competent and certified for the generic Moderator Unit Standard (115759 - Conduct Moderation of Outcomes-based Assessments
  • Have the relevant subject matter expertise as stipulated in the qualification and/or Professional Body
  • Moderate against qualifications/standards that fall within the MICT SETA QA's scope for qualifications and unit standards within the MICT SETA QA's scope)

MICT SETA QA Moderator Registration Process

  • Complete the MICT SETA QA Registration as a Moderator Application forms
  • Attach all relevant and supporting documentation
  • Submit the original application form and copies of supporting documentation
  • If you will be assessing any of the Professional Body/Quality Assurance Partners qualifications, you will need to attach a letter of recommendation from the relevant Professional Body/Quality Assurance Partners with your application form

Certification

When the application form has been evaluated against the set criteria, Moderators will be notified in writing and issued with a registration certificate/letter, registration number, Code of Conduct and requirements for continued registration.

Requirements for Continued Registration as Moderator

  • Contact details kept current
  • Adherence of Code of Conduct
  • Keep abreast with amended Moderator Standards
  • Participation in professional development workshops on an annual basis
  • Submission of recommendations regarding the revision of qualifications/standards (as required)
  • Compliance with moderation requirements
  • Providing reports based on the MICT SETAQA requirements, as required

De-Registration Process

MICT SETA QA will de-register Moderators for the following reasons:

  • If a moderator has breached the code of conduct and compromised the integrity of the learner achievements
  • Where a moderator has moderated outside of the scope of registration
  • If a moderator request de-registration.

Should a Moderator be de-registered for mis-conduct, the following bodies or authorities will be informed:

  • Senior Manager ETQA
  • South African Qualifications Authority
  • QCTO
  • Department of Higher Education and Training
  • Any relevant ETQA’s

MICT SETA QA Appeals Process

Moderators who have been de-registered or have not been granted registration may appeal against the decision by:

  • Submitting a written notice of appeal to the Senior Manager ETQA within 10 working days of the decision
  • The Appellant has a further 10 working days to submit a statement setting out the grounds for the appeal, accompanied by the relevant documentation, to the Senior Manager ETQA
  • The appeal will be forwarded to Senior Manager ETQA who will consider the evidence and make decisions to either accept or reject the appellant’s claim
  • The Administrator will communicate the Senior Manager ETQA’s decision to the appellant in writing and thereafter, the appellant may submit a further appeal to SAQA/OCTO.

QA – Guidelines – Registration as an Assessor & Moderator V1p0 C Philiso 2014Page 1