The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is a system for bringing order and coherence into the complex arena of education and training, assisting learners and workers to progress in their educational and career paths, and ensuring that South African qualifications are both relevant and of high quality.

The publication of the three draft qualifications sub-frameworks by Minister Nzimande gives the South African national system of qualifications an important boost.

The draft sub-frameworks have been developed by the three national education and training quality councils--Umalusi, the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

The proposed sub-frameworks reflect the qualification types that will be available in general and in further education and training, higher education and occupational education and training respectively.

They are meant to articulate or link with one another so that learners are able to make easy transitions from one learning programme to another. Together the sub-frameworks make up the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

The draft documents will be revised in response to the public's comments. SAQA is responsible for overseeing the entire NQF and making sure that it is integrated in accordance with the NQF Act which was passed by Parliament in 2008.

"Our integrated NQF must facilitate the greatest possible degree of mobility for learners and workers through our systems of learning, and in particular, must lubricate the development of an integrated post-school system", says Minister Nzimande.