1500 affected as DHET phases out legacy qualifications

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/ The Citizen The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has confirmed that South Africa is moving ahead with the phased withdrawal of pre-2009 qualifications as part of a major overhaul of the country’s post-school education and training system. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela stated that the transition to occupational qualifications was intended to create a skills system that better reflects workplace requirements, technological advancements, and the needs of the economy.

The announcement comes as the government prepares to publish a Government Gazette on Monday, 15 June, detailing transitional arrangements for affected qualifications. Manamela stressed that qualifications already obtained by students would remain valid. “Let me state from the outset that this transition is not about invalidating qualifications that people have worked hard to achieve, nor is it about diminishing the value of learning that has already taken place,” he said.

“Every qualification that has already been awarded remains valid, recognised and recorded on the National Learners’ Records Database.” The minister said the transition forms part of the implementation of the Directive on Transitional Arrangements for Pre-2009 Qualifications, which was published in June 2024 under the National Qualifications Framework Act. According to Manamela, the reform aims to ensure an orderly transition to a modern qualifications framework, enhance alignment between training and labour market needs, and expedite the rollout of occupational qualifications. He argued that many legacy qualifications placed too much emphasis on classroom learning.

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“The legacy qualifications, as they are called, have contributed meaningfully to workforce development and economic participation over many years. However, these qualifications have favoured the classroom over the workshop.” “What we are introducing are qualifications that guarantee practical experience and workplace placement. It is about modernising the system to make the Skills Revolution a reality.”

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