{"id":507,"date":"2025-11-24T11:55:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T11:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/?page_id=507"},"modified":"2025-11-24T12:25:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T12:25:54","slug":"the-national-qualifications-framework-nqf-explained","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/about-abet\/the-national-qualifications-framework-nqf-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"ABET &amp; NQF Explained\" width=\"1100\" height=\"619\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yob1aanwO2g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In South Africa there are three bands of education:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>General Education and Training:<\/strong> Training provided in primary and secondary schools from Grade R to grade 9. The ABET equivalent is levels 1 to 4.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Further Education and Training<\/strong>: Training provided by high schools from Grade 10 to grade 12 and vocational qualifications at NQF levels 2 to 4.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Higher Education<\/strong>: Post grade 12 and tertiry education.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4f8c4de30883b93bcd50ae35913fbe04\" style=\"color:#08734b\">ABET levels and their school equivalents are as follows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Adult Education and Training is the foundation towards lifelong learning, and provides learning at ABET levels 1 &#8211; 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-right\">ABET Level 1:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-right\">ABET Level 2:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-right\">ABET Level 3:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-right\">ABET Level 4:<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized m0\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"131\" height=\"83\" data-src=\"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/arrowright.gif\" alt=\"Arrow pointing right\" class=\"wp-image-508 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 131px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 131\/83;width:52px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized m0\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"131\" height=\"83\" data-src=\"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/arrowright.gif\" alt=\"Arrow pointing right\" class=\"wp-image-508 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 131px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 131\/83;width:52px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized m0\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"131\" height=\"83\" data-src=\"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/arrowright.gif\" alt=\"Arrow pointing right\" class=\"wp-image-508 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 131px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 131\/83;width:52px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized m0\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"131\" height=\"83\" data-src=\"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/arrowright.gif\" alt=\"Arrow pointing right\" class=\"wp-image-508 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 131px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 131\/83;width:52px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Grade 3<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Grade 5<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Grade 7<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Grade 9 (or NQF level 1)<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d599f6e0197ac424131e8b106c0e34f8\" style=\"color:#08734b\">The NQF and their school equivalents are as follows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table aligncenter is-style-stripes has-medium-font-size\"><table><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>NQF LEVEL<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td>Grade 9 certificate or equivalent (also equates with ABET Level 4)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong> 2<\/strong><\/td><td>Grade 10 certificate or equivalent<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong> 3<\/strong><\/td><td>Grade 11 certificate or equivalent<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong> 4<\/strong><\/td><td>Grade 12 certificate or equivalent<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong> 5<\/strong><\/td><td>Higher Certificate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong> 6<\/strong><\/td><td>Diploma<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>7<\/strong><\/td><td>Bachelor&#8217;s Degree<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong> 8<\/strong><\/td><td>Honours Degree<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>9<\/strong><\/td><td>Master&#8217;s Degree<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong> 10<\/strong><\/td><td>Doctorate Degree<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Statistics<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><div class=\"su-divider su-divider-style-default\" style=\"margin:0px 0;border-width:5px;border-color:#f0bdec\"><\/div><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>StatsSA in their a recent General Household Survey, noted that while literacy rates were decreasing, results of their nationwide survey indicate a consistently high number. Women were more likely to be functionally illiterate than men (functional literacy refers to individuals who have either received no schooling or who have not completed Grade 7) and the older the population, the higher the illiteracy rate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of ABET<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><div class=\"su-divider su-divider-style-default\" style=\"margin:0px 0;border-width:5px;border-color:#f0bdec\"><\/div><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>ABET has been called several names with subtly different meanings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>AET: Adult Education and Training.<\/strong> This term is often used interchangeably with that of ABET and is mostly used overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>FET:<\/strong> <strong>Further Education and Training.<\/strong> Most often used n the context of vocational training. The term used mostly nowadays is TVET<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TVET: Technical and Vocational Education and Training.<\/strong> This name took over from that of FET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CET: Continuing Education and Training.<\/strong> This refers mainly to higher education training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In South Africa there are three bands of education: ABET levels and their school equivalents are as follows Adult Education and Training is the foundation towards lifelong learning, and provides learning at ABET levels 1 &#8211; 3. ABET Level 1: <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/about-abet\/the-national-qualifications-framework-nqf-explained\/\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":23,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-507","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=507"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":514,"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/507\/revisions\/514"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abet.co.za\/cet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}