Overview
- Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela told reporters the Department of Higher Education and Training is phasing out legacy pre‑2009 qualifications and rolling out occupational qualifications designed for workplace learning.
- The government has registered 948 occupational qualifications and part‑qualifications to replace legacy programmes and says replacement standards are already being implemented.
- DHET confirmed that qualifications already awarded remain valid and recorded on the National Learners’ Records Database to protect learners who completed legacy programmes.
- Out of 1,475 pre‑2009 qualifications that reached their registration end date, 630 received targeted enrolment extensions while the remainder were deregistered after stakeholder consultations.
- A Technical Task Team will manage the transition and the department says it has completed verification of students needing workplace experience, is finalising stipend funding, and will publish full lists and teach‑out rules in an official gazette.