SAQA to recognise qualifications of refugees and asylum-seekers

Source: MSN, 29/11/2018

Currently, migrants holding refugee and asylum permits were more
likely to be blocked from continuing with their studies at South
African institutions or finding employment, using their
qualifications.
As they were often forced to suddenly flee their violent-torn
countries, they were in a worse off than migrants who had planned
their relocation to South Africa.
SAQA recognises the qualifications of foreigners arriving in the
country for specific purposes such as studying or employment, but not
those of refugees and asylum-seekers.
The authority now plans to change this and give the refugees and
their asylum counterparts a lifeline.
Joe Samuels, SAQA’s chief executive, has invited public comments on
the proposed law, detailing plans to recognise qualifications of
refugees and asylum-seekers.
“SAQA is conscious that refugees and asylum-seekers do not migrate by
choice and face unique challenges to meet all the application
criteria for evaluation of their qualifications,” said Samuels.
“SAQA is committed to assisting asylum-seekers and refugees to
overcome such challenges.”
The African Diaspora Forum welcomed SAQA’s intentions. The
organisation said it would make a submission in support of the
proposed law.
Vusumuzi Sibanda, its chairperson, told The Star that many educated
asylum-seekers and refugees were forced into informal jobs, because
their qualifications were not recognised.
Sibanda said it was amiss that laws did not prohibit refugees and
asylum-seekers from being employed, but did not allow for recognition
of their qualifications. Refugees and asylum-seekers were effectively
blocked from participating in the formal economy and paying income
tax.
“Asylum-seekers and refugees are allowed to work, but their
qualifications are not recognised. This means they can only do jobs
that do not consider their qualifications,” he said.
Sibanda added that the status quo explained why many were car guards
in malls and spaza shopkeepers.
“A lot of them are running these spaza shops because their
qualifications are not recognised,” said Sibanda.
“Some have qualifications in crucial skills and the country can now
increase the pool of qualified artisans.”