NLRD

Overview

The term ‘Information Systems’ is used to describe how computers and other technologies store, manage, transmit and report different kinds of information. It is also known as Information Communications Technology (ICT).
In education and training, ICT is used for a variety of reasons. Examples are:

• To increase learning opportunities and access, by delivering programme content and materials through different media (e.g. TV, CDs, the Internet, cellphones).
• To help with administration and management in provider organisations and learning institutions (e.g. financial management, information on courses, learners and staff).
• To keep data and statistics on learner registration, throughput and results.
• To report information such as student numbers and achievements to the relevant authorities.

The National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD) is the computer system developed and maintained by SAQA to hold and manage NQF data. It keeps a record of the formal learning achievements of learners who have completed NQF registered qualifications and standards. It also contains data about qualifications, unit standards, and assessors. As the nation's repository of all learner achievements, it is an important part of the NQF. The NLRD is used by SAQA and other NQF stakeholders to manage the processes and data of the NQF and to enable SAQA to report accurately on education and training in South Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Category: SAQA website information on the NLRD

The SAQA website gives a useful overview of the NLRD as well as some detailed information. For your convenience, the FAQs posed on the SAQA website are listed below, and the answers to these have been extracted from the website so that you can link directly to them.

1. What can I find out about the NLRD from the SAQA website? click here
1.1 What is the National Learners’ Records Database?
1.2 What information is provided by the NLRD?
1.3 How does information get into the NLRD?
1.4 Is information generally available?
1.5 How do I verify learner achievements of qualifications?
1.6 Who can make use of NLRD information?
1.7 How do I contact the NLRD at SAQA?

Category: Technical information on the NLRD

2.Who needs technical information on the NLRD, and where can this be found? click here
Category: General information on Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
3. What is ICT? click here
4. What role does ICT play in education and training organisations? click here
5. What does an ICT system involve? click here
6. How does ICT relate to quality assurance? click here
7. How can ICT be used to support providers and learners? click here

Useful Guidelines, Extracts, Tools and Templates

In this section you will find more detailed information on the role of the NLRD, and some general information on ICT.

SAQA: Presentation on the NLRD. click here
This presentation addresses some of the challenges of the NLRD, illustrates some of its uses and summarises some of the trends in data analysis.

SAQA. Recording education and training achievements. Article by Yvonne Shapiro, Director: NLRD. From the SAQA Annual Report, 2007. click here

Overview: Purposes and Processes of the NLRD. click here

Summary of technical coverage offered by NQF Support Link programme. click here

A list of commonly used terms in ICT.

Useful background information

In this section you will find articles and research reports dealing with the NLRD and broader ICT issues or projects, as well as position papers on ICT from the Department of Education.

click here
This Update contains articles on ICT topics as follows:

• Trends in Public Higher Education launched by Minister Pandor
• Convergence of communications, computers and good governance at SAQA
• NQF Support Link – a tool to help you navigate the NQF landscape
• New features of the searchable database of qualifications and unit standards

Trends in Public Higher Education in South Africa, 1995 to 2004. Analysis of the NLRD, Report 1. SAQA, March 2007click here

Council for Higher Education. The HEQCIS and the NLRD. Presentation by Yvonne Shapiro, SAQA NLRD Directorate. April 2008. click here
This presentation deals with a project through which SAQA will assist the Council on Higher Education (CHE), to develop, implement and manage its Higher Education Quality Committee Information System (HEQCIS). This system deals primarily with the information concerning Private Higher Institutions, their qualifications and their learners. (The corresponding information concerning Public Higher Institutions is dealt with by the Higher Education Management Information System, HEMIS, at the national Department of Education.)

SAQA Information Provision Manual. SAQA, June 2007. click here
This manual is available in all official languages from the SAQA website.

White Paper on e-Education. Transforming Learning and Teaching through ICT. Government Gazette Notice 1869 of 26 August 2004. Department of Education, 2004. click here

Strategy for Information and Communications Technology in Education. Department of Education and Department of Communications. November 2001. click here

Research Agenda for e-learning: discussion document in response to White Paper on e-Education. Presented at Joint Seminar held by Department of Education, Meraka Institute and Mindset at CSIR,Pretoria, on 4 April 2008.click here

Mindset Research Analysis 2002-2007. Two extracts from consolidated report. click here

• Executive summary of Consolidation and Analysis of Research completed for Mindset Network.
• ICTs in South Africa.

This research was presented at the joint seminar held by Department of Education, Meraka Institute and Mindset in Pretoria on 4 April 2008. For the full report, contact Mindset on info@mindset.co.za, or go to www.mindset.co.za.

Beyers, R. Young Engineers of South Africa (YESA). Meraka Institute, CSIR. March 2008.click here

&Duveskog M. Initial Report on Tekkikids Project. Meraka Institute, CSIR. March 2008. click here

Ford, M & Batchelor, J. From zero to hero – is the mobile phone a viable learning tool for Afrika? Meraka Institute, CSIR and University of Pretoria 2007. click here

Acts and Regulations

Many of the requirements relating to management of information are embedded in key acts such as the SAQA Act. The following legislation refers specifically to ICT issues.
Regulation of Interception of Communication and Provision of Communication-related infrastructure Act 70 of 2002 click here

Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000 click here

Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000 amendment click here

For updates and latest developments on this Act please refer to the following Government Gazettes:

• The Act has been amended by the Regulations in Government Gazette No. 29278 dated 13 October 2006. click here
• The Act has been amended by the Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act, No. 55 of 2004 (GG No. 26206 dated 31 March 2004). click here
• Sections 4 and 9 of the Regulations have been amended by GG 25411 dated 22 September 2003. click here
• Private Bodies have been exempted from compiling the manual until 31 August 2005 (GG 25410 dated 29 August 2003). click here
• The Act has been amended by the addition of section 91A by the Promotion of Access to Information Amendment Act, 2002 (54 of 2002) as gazetted on 15 January 2003 (no 24250). click here
• The Regulations relating to the Promotion of Access to Information have been added to the Act as Gazetted in RG 7278 dated 15 February, 2002. click here
• The commencement date for this Act is 9 March 2001 excluding sections 10, 14, 16 and 51. This was announced in Gazette 22125 date 9 March 2001. click here
• Notice No. 2555 regarding the Proposed commencement of the Act and Draft Regulations, has been added to the Act, as published in Gazette 21362 and dated 7 July 2000. click here
• Notice No. 1813 of 2000, regarding the Implementation of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, as published in Gazette 21146 and dated 12 May 2000.
• The Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, has been added to the site on 24 February 2000, as published in Government Gazette 20852 and dated 3 February 2000. click here

S A Law Reform Commission Document (Privacy and Data protection. Issue Paper 24. Project 124) click here

How to order and enrol for the NQF Support Link

If you would like more information on the NQF Support Link, please click here.