The ETQA Regulations (Regulation Gazette 6290) defines an ETQA as:
'Education and Training Quality Assurance Body' means a body accredited in terms of section 5(1)(a)(ii) of the Act, responsible for monitoring and auditing achievements in terms of national standards or qualifications, and to which specific functions relating to the monitoring and auditing of national standards or qualifications have been assigned in terms of section 5(1)(b)(i) of the Act;
This means that the W&RSETA ETQA is the body that has been accredited by SAQA for the performing all quality assurance functions with regard to the implementation of learning programmes that falls within the scope of the Wholesale and Retail Sector.
The W&RSETA ETQA follows a decentralised model with the first point of contact for any quality assurance body being the relevant regional office. The W&RSETA ETQA fulfills the following functions:
- accredit constituent providers for specific standards or qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework;
- promote quality amongst constituent providers;
- monitor provision by constituent providers;
- evaluate assessment and facilitation of moderation among constituent providers;
- register constituent assessors for specified registered standards or qualifications in terms of the criteria established for this purpose;
- take responsibility for the certification of constituent learners;