Assessment and Moderation Policies

Busvannah Communications was formed in 1990 by Howard Thomas.  The normal modus of operandi of the organisation is to work in association with the best available knowledge, experience and expertise for the project in hand.

Busvannah brings together the combined skills, education, expertise and experience of Howard Thomas, Adele Mda, Gray Training and many other associates to create a unique pool of knowledge of the sociology, psychology, economics and human resource development in the media, entertainment, creative and cultural industries. 

Standards

Every course offered by Busvannah is an outcomes-based training course.   This means that that every course has measurable standards by which the outcomes can be proven.   To this end, we train and assess to:

	Qualifications and Unit Standards registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), or
	Busvannah Enterprise Standards that completely comply with the requirements of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) Unit Standards.

In this way, you can achieve recognition from SAQA, or gain recognition towards qualifications that will be recognised in the future.

Many of the South African Unit Standards have not yet been registered and where these have been published for comment, we have embraced the published standards completely.

We have developed and use the Busvannah Enterprise standards where South African Unit standards do not exist, or do not specifically apply to the needs of the enterprise or the sector.

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Enrolment

No candidate will be enrolled on a course until:

	The candidate has proved that he or she has fulfilled the required prior learning or experience.
	The candidate has been assessed for learning style, social style and NQF level.
	A place becomes vacant on a course that matches the requirements of the candidate’s assessed learning and social styles; and NF level.
	The candidate falls into the parameters of the appropriate Needs Analysis.

Busvannah provides for RPL on every unit and enterprise standard we offer.

RPL takes many forms that include observation and knowledge assessment in addition to historic evidence.

Any candidate who has the necessary level of experience and feels s/he has the learning or experience to achieve any Unit Standard for which we are accredited, or enterprise standard that we train towards has the right to apply for RPL from Busvannah.

Busvannah will screen any aspiring RPL candidate to ensure that s/he is at the requisite level of learning and experience.

	There will be at least one assessment planning session with the candidate.
	Historic evidence is closely scrutinised for authenticity and currency.
	Every RPL assessment is moderated.
	Candidates may submit a maximum of two submissions for RPL.

Busvannah only use registered assessors who are accredited with those unit standards, or registered assessors who are competent to assess enterprise standards.

Once a candidate functions within the Busvannah RPL system, Busvannah provides every assistance as described in these policies and procedures to ensure achievement.

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All learners are formatively, summatively and transfer assessed.   The sole criteria for assessment are:

	South African Unit standards,
	Busvannah Enterprise standards, as applicable.

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Every learning intervention is continuously and cumulatively knowledge and performance assessed against pre-stated criteria.

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Knowledge competence is summatively assessed during the learning, or at the end of each learning session, day or course.   This may be done in written or oral form.

Performance is summatively assessed during the workshops where real-life activities are performed.

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Busvannah has always insisted that every learner must demonstrate transfer of competence learned into the workplace before issuing a certificate.   Every course has transfer assessment post-course assignments that assess the criteria stated in the standard.

A time limit is placed upon this assessment to ensure currency of competence.

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Busvannah assessors and moderators:

	Analyse the standards and source documents to establish the outcomes and criteria to identify the required evidence to satisfy the criteria.
	Design performance and knowledge assessment instruments that address all the assessment criteria for all of the outcomes.
	Standardise all assessment instruments.
	Design an assessment strategy for all stages of assessment.
	Hold regular meetings to ensure the standardisation of all assessment procedures.
	Design the assessment instruments to assess psychomotor, cognitive and values evidence.
	Constantly review the assessment instruments.

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The Busvannah procedure when a candidate applies for assessment

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	Assists all parties directly involved in any assessment to ensure fairness and correctness in all assessments and judgements.
	Acts as the first line of appeal in any disputed assessment
	Grows the assessor’s competence as an assessor.
	Contributes toward the development of a credible assessment and ETD process within the organisation.
	Moderates and contributes towards the judgement of every assessment made before the assessment result is given to the candidate.

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	Any appeal against an assessment is valid if submitted within six months of the assessment.
	Every appeal is valid until it proved invalid according to the above ruling.
	All appeals are recorded whether valid or non-valid for Busvannah, SAQA, and SETA purposes.
	Safely and confidentiality rulings apply to all records and documentation.
	All parties involved are notified of the results of all decisions made.
	Candidates with special needs may only be excluded from assessment or moderation if the reason for their special need prevents the actual performance or if could result in an unsafe act.   All candidates with special needs who do not fall within the exclusion categories will have their special needs addressed.

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The assessor forwards the assessment documentation to the moderator.

 The Moderator

	Evaluates the methods of assessment with special concern for candidates with special needs.
	Evaluates the judgement against the standard applied using the evidence documentation.
	If the documentation upholds the assessor’s judgement, the moderator countersigns the documentation and returns them to the assessor.
	If the moderator suspects or identifies a problem, s/he discusses this with the assessor to clarify the reasons for the judgement.   S/he can call for the evidence presented to the assessor and make a judgement upon the outcome.   This judgement will supersede the judgement of the assessor.
	The moderator uses a superseding judgement as a learning opportunity to improve the assessor’s competence.
	The moderator records every judgement made that supersedes the assessor’s judgement and files it for Busvannah and SETA records.

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	Is notified of an appeal to an assessment.
		Records the name of the candidate. Records the date of the assessment. Records the identity of the assessor. Records the reason for the appeal. Records the details of the original moderation.
	Tests the appeal for validity.

	Gathers all documentation and evidence relating to the judgement.
	Identifies all parties to the moderation.
	These documents include:
		The unit or other standard used, The assessment plan, The assessment instruments, The criteria for assessment, All assessment result sheets, Copies of all reports sent to all interested parties, All evidence presented (Portfolios, etc)
	Convenes a meeting of all parties to determine the scope of the moderation.

	Tests the assessment instruments and assessment criteria for validity, reliability, objectivity and differentiality.
	Verifies that there was no bias in the assessment that was to the detriment of candidates with special needs.
	Arranges for all relevant parties to attend the moderation meeting.
	Arranges for all relevant resources and evidence to be available at the moderation meeting.
	Reviews the assessment plan.
	Reviews the evidence presented.
	Reviews the judgement.
	Presents the judgement to all parties.
	Writes the report on the moderation.
	Files the report on the moderation.

The moderator submits the appeal with copies of all the records to the SETA for verification in the case of a SAQA Unit Standard.  In the case of an Busvannah enterprise standard, the moderator submits the appeal to Busvannah management.

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	You have the right of appeal against any assessment judgement given.  You must however have valid reasons for doing this.
	You have the right to an interpreter if you need one to perform this function unless one of the learning assumptions for the standard is that you are competent within the language of assessment.
	You can have an impartial observer attend any assessment.   This observer may not take any part in the assessment.
	If you do not agree with an assessment, you have the right to appeal.
	If you still do not agree with the result of the moderated assessment, you can re-appeal.   Busvannah will submit your appeal to the relevant SETA or awarding body for external verification on the assessment.
	If any verification upholds the assessment findings, you will be held liable for all costs of verification.
	If any verification rules that you have been aggrieved because of the assessment, Busvannah will be liable for all costs of verification.
	If, during an assessment you are found “Not yet competent” Busvannah will encourage you to master the areas where you have not reached mastery.   You are required to arrange with the assessor for a new assessment cycle.    Busvannah can only permit three such re-assessments.
	If you do not reached mastery after three additional attempts, Busvannah reserves the right to remove you from the programme or request additional training.
	You may contact any of our tutors for information that will assist you in learning further.

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