SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Describe the principles of Computer Programming

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14918	Describe the principles of Computer Programming
ORIGINATOR
SGB Information Systems and Technology
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences			Information Technology and Computer Sciences
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular-Fundamental	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		2018-07-01	2023-06-30	SAQA 06120/18
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard.

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This unit standard is intended:

to provide a conceptual knowledge of the areas covered

for those entering the workplace in the area of systems development

as additional knowledge for those wanting to understand the areas covered

People credited with this unit standard are able to:

describe problem analysis and program design techniques

describe different data representations used in computer programs

describe basic programming principles

described the principles used in designing a computer program
The performance of all elements is to a standard that allows for further learning in this area

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Open.
The credit value of this unit is based on a person having the prior knowledge and skills to:

Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental mathematics (at least NQF level 3)

Demonstrate PC competency skills (End User Computing unit standards up to Level 3).

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Describe problem analysis and program design techniques.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The description provides an appreciation of the steps and techniques of program maintenance.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Understand problem, devise plan, carry out plan, review solution, apply change, test & implement.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The description identifies different problem analysis techniques (at least 2).

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Problem definition, Hierarchical (Top-Down) approach, Stepwise refinement, Modularity.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The description identifies different programming design techniques.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Flow charts, Structured use of language (Pseudo code).

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Describe different data representations used in computer programs.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The description distinguishes between different numeric data types (at least 3).

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Binary, Decimal, Hexadecimal, Octal.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The description identifies different logical data types.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Numeric, Alphabetic, Alpha numeric, Boolean

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The description distinguishes between different internal representations of data types.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Bit, Byte, Word.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The description identifies different logical operators.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

4. And, Or, Not.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Describe the basic principles of Computer Programming.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The description identifies different algorithmic structures of programming languages.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Sequential, Selection, Loops.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The description identifies good program documentation principles (at least 3).

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

General readability, Meaningful variable names, indentation, program comments.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The description identifies programming quality assurance (QA) principles.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Syntax checking, Test data & test plan.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The description distinguishes between validation and verification.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. The description explains the relationship between files, records and fields.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Describe the principles used in designing a computer program.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The description identifies methods of specifying problems.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

program structure diagrams, decision trees, decision tables, use cases, pseudo code.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The description explains techniques used to research problems in terms of inputs and outputs.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

HIPO, Object-event diagrams, UML actors.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The description includes an evaluation of the viability of developing computer programs to solve problems and it identifies the issues in assessing the viability.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The description explains the features of a computer program that could solve a given problem.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Batch/online, User Interface Type, Keyboard/mouse driven.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

The relevant Education and Training Quality Authoriy (ETQA) must accredit providers before they can offer programs of education and training assessed against unit standards.

Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

1. Performance of all elements is to be carried out in accordance with organisation standards and procedures, unless otherwise stated. Organisation standards and procedures may cover: quality assurance, documentation, security, communication, health and safety, and personal behaviour. An example of the standards expected is the standards found in ISO 9000 Certified Organisations.
2. Performance of all elements complies with the laws of South Africa, especially with regard to copyright, privacy, health and safety, and consumer rights.
3. All activities must comply with any policies, procedures and requirements of the organisations involved, the ethical codes of relevant professional bodies and any relevant legislative and/ or regulatory requirements.
4. Performance of all elements should be performed with a solid understanding of the use of development tools needed in the areas applicable to the unit standard. Examples of such tools are, but are not limited to CASE tools, programming language editors with syntax checking, program source version control systems.
5. Performance of all elements should make use of International capability models used for Software Development. Examples of such models include (but are not limited to) the ISO SPICE model as well as the CMM model for Software Development.

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Identify, solve problems and make decisions in relation to the current systems development environments.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and or language skills in the modes of oral and/ or written persuasion when engaging with systems development.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exists in isolation.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING

Contribute to his/her full personal development and the social and economic development of the society at large by being aware of the importance of: reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively, exploring education and career opportunities and developing entrepreneurial opportunities.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

Supplementary information:

Structured use of language and pseudo code have equal meaning

Where not specified otherwise, all options in the range statement must be covered to confirm that a learner is competent in the specific outcome

Sub-Sub-Field (Domain):Systems Development

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	49627	Further Education and Training Certificate: e Records Management	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2012-06-30
Core	24294	Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Systems Development	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2010-01-23	Was MICTS until Last Date for Achievement
Core	78965	Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Systems Development	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	MICTS
Elective	20184	National Certificate: Banking	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	BANKSETA
Elective	61591	National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	Academy at Vaal Triangle (AVT
2.	Academy Training Group
3.	Acorser Corporate & Business Consulting t/a Acorser Academy
4.	Action for Blind and Disabled
5.	Action4
6.	Affirmations Training
7.	Africa Learn (Pty) Ltd
8.	Afrika Tikkun NCC
9.	All Nation Group Five Trading and Projects
10.	Amadi Institute of Management And Technology (Pty) Ltd
11.	Amilak Training Center
12.	Angie Technologies
13.	Answer The Call Skills and Entrepreneurship
14.	ASMO INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AN
15.	Aspirations Communication Training CC
16.	Assured Vocational Skill Institute
17.	ATTI (Advanced Technonogy Training Institute)
18.	ATTI IT SOLUTIONS (Bloemfontei
19.	ATTI Nelspruit Pty Ltd
20.	Atvance Institute (Pty) Ltd
21.	Balefile Trading and Services
22.	Basadipele Skills Development and Training
23.	BEE Clinic Pty Ltd
24.	Bells Technical College
25.	Birnam Business College (Pty)
26.	Bokamoso Skills and Economic Development Centre
27.	Brainwave Projects 1430 cc
28.	BTC Campus (Pty) Ltd
29.	Business Optimization Training Institute (Pty) Ltd
30.	Careers IT
31.	CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
32.	CHILI PEPPER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
33.	Claas Illustration
34.	Clean Heat Academy
35.	College Africa Group (Pty) Ltd
36.	Columbus Consulting Pty Ltd
37.	Common Vision Young Specialist Trading cc
38.	COMPUSTEPS COLLEGE (PTY) LTD
39.	CSL Accountants
40.	CTU Training Solutions
41.	CYBAX SYSTEMS
42.	CYBER-CITY IT SOLUTIONS
43.	DC Academy (PTY)LTD
44.	Decade Pulse (Pty) Ltd
45.	Dee's Training (Pty) Ltd
46.	Delight Computer Training
47.	Eagle Computer Training
48.	Eagle High IT Training
49.	EAST LONDON MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
50.	Eastern Cape Academy of Technology
51.	ED-U Options Academy
52.	Ekasi IT Solutions Centre
53.	Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre Pty Ltd
54.	Elangeni Training Institute
55.	Elchees Software Solutions
56.	Emalahleni Institute of Techno
57.	Enter on Stilts
58.	Epitome Villa (Pty)Ltd
59.	Eshybrand Pty Ltd
60.	EYETHU NATIONAL COMPUTER COLLEGE PTY LTD
61.	Fachs Business Consulting and Training
62.	Finweb Business Consultancy
63.	Foster-Melliar (Pty) Ltd
64.	Fourways Private College
65.	Futurekids SA (Fochville)
66.	Genii Institute PTY LTD
67.	Gert Sibande FET College
68.	Gigimo Tourism Academy
69.	Global Institute for Capacity
70.	Greater Tzaneen Community Foundation
71.	Growth Management Consulting cc
72.	Gurandbuilt Management Development
73.	HAVOHEJ CONSULTANCY
74.	Hazyview Computer College
75.	Hectic Productions cc
76.	HILLCROSS BUSINESS SCHOOL (PTY
77.	Hlanganani ICT (Pty) Ltd
78.	Home of Compassion/Grace Ministries
79.	HUAWEI Technologies Africa (PTY) LTD
80.	iCollege College
81.	Ikusasa Technology Solutions
82.	Ikusasalethu Youth Development Project NPC
83.	iLearn Corporate Services PTY LTD
84.	Imbizo Training and Development Consultants Cc
85.	Information Technology Resource Centre
86.	Inqubeko Institute (Pty) Ltd
87.	Institute of Training and Education for Capacity Building
88.	IT Academy
89.	IT-HI-Q Training (PTY) Ltd
90.	Iyam Training Services
91.	Jeppe College of Commerce and
92.	K Boneng Consulting Services P
93.	K Centre Business Enterprise (PTY) LTD
94.	Keep The Dream 285
95.	Keybase Training Solutions Cc
96.	King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College
97.	KN Training Specialist
98.	KT Mobile Services
99.	Kundani Trading
100.	L and P Computer Academy Pty Ltd
101.	Leseding Computer Systems
102.	LETAGO DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING
103.	LIMPOPO COMPUTER COLLEGE BK
104.	LINDAMAHLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (PTY) LTD
105.	Loomee Group
106.	LYFE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES (PTY) LTD
107.	Makhophila Training
108.	Malope It Solutions (Pty) Ltd
109.	Masakhane Training and Consult
110.	Mash Computer Training
111.	MBOWA COLLEGE PTY LTD
112.	Metanoia Ratings PTY LTD
113.	MMELA VILLAGE TECHNOLOGIES (PT
114.	MND Training and Projects
115.	Mogapi Education Group (Pty) Ltd
116.	Moripe Business Training and C
117.	MORTERBOARD TRAINING SOLUTIONS
118.	Motlhamme Executive Management
119.	Moving Ahead Development Agenc
120.	MP Avuxeni Computer Academy
121.	Mpande Technologies cc
122.	Mthonyama Technologies cc
123.	Mufuka Business and Technical
124.	Musengavhadzimu Media
125.	Nape Angwato Trading
126.	Natfin Holdings Pty Ltd
127.	NBC Technologies
128.	NCC - Vereeniging
129.	NCM Computer and Business Academy
130.	Ndulita Solutions
131.	New Era Computer Training Centre (Hidobyte CC)
132.	New Link Computer Skills
133.	Nolwazi Stem Education for The
134.	Ntamunde Investment
135.	Ntandokazi Holdings Pty Ltd
136.	NW Avuxeni Computer Academy
137.	Nyankwavi Inverstment
138.	Nyathela Business College
139.	Nyelati Trading Enterprise
140.	Olrich Home of Technology
141.	On the Ball College Pty ltd
142.	OPELONG BUSINESS INSTITUTE (PT
143.	Paramixed Pty Ltd
144.	Parkton College of Catering & Tourism Studies
145.	Peo Entle HIV Wellness Management and Youth Skills Development NPO
146.	Pioneer Business Consulting
147.	Polokwane Technology Institute (Pty) Ltd
148.	Pretoria Technical College
149.	Priha Projects Pty Ltd
150.	Progressive School of Business
151.	Prophesy Training College (Pty) Ltd
152.	PRX SCHOOL TEST
153.	QUALITATIVE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
154.	QUARPHIX (PTY) LTD
155.	Ramotec Business College
156.	Rand Training College
157.	Redefine Human Capital (PTY) L
158.	Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology Pty Ltd
159.	Rostec Technical FET College (Pty) Ltd
160.	Sabile Human Resources Consult
161.	SANDM IT TRAINING (PTY) LTD
162.	SED Computer Academy
163.	Sesk Facilitation Development (PTY) LTD
164.	SIGNA ACADEMY (PTY) LTD
165.	Silulo Ulutho Technologies
166.	Sisekelo Sustainability Institute
167.	SIYAFUNDA COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE NPC
168.	Skills Unlimited
169.	SOUTH AFRICAN CORPORATE TRAINING ASSOCIATION (PTY) LTD
170.	Spears Business and Life Couch Consulting (Pty) Ltd
171.	SPLS Consultants (Pty) Ltd
172.	SUCCESS BUILDERS INTERNATIONAL CC
173.	Success Christian Training Cen
174.	Succinct Investments (Pty) Ltd
175.	SUPREME ICT CONSULTANTS
176.	Synergistic Covenant Network NPO
177.	Tech-Com Solutions cc
178.	Techtisa (pty) Ltd
179.	Terrawood
180.	Terry Computer Services cc
181.	Thalita Koume Directions (Pty) Ltd
182.	The Finishing College (Pty) Lt
183.	THE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CORPORA
184.	Think Tank T2 (Pty) Ltd
185.	Titan Trade Technologies
186.	Tlou Foundation College
187.	TORQUE TECHNICAL COMPUTER TRAINING PTY LTD
188.	Trainers Without Borders
189.	Tshwane College of Commerce an
190.	Tsima Consulting Development S
191.	TSP COLLEGE
192.	TURFLOOP TRAINING SERVICES CC
193.	Ubuhlanti Sances Trading (Pty) Ltd
194.	Ukwazi Academy and Corporate S
195.	Umbrella Training and Development
196.	Umbusi Consulting Services
197.	UTHINGO BRITE SERVICES
198.	Varsity Institute of Science & Technology (Pty)Ltd
199.	Visionary Skill Academy
200.	VSS College (Pty) LTD
201.	Vukani Solutions
202.	VUTHLARI MARKETING CONSULTING
203.	Waterberg TVET College
204.	Wellinkwise Pty Ltd
205.	Whitestone College
206.	WORK SKILLS RESOURCES CC
207.	Working Solution International
208.	Xylo Trading 12 (Pty) Ltd
209.	YITRO INNOVATIONS
210.	Yonet Training Academy
211.	Youth Media Movement
212.	ZA WIT (PTY) LTD
213.	Zealot Business College
214.	Zikode Development Trust
215.	ZIPHELELE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AC