Introducing Unit Standards-Based Education and Training Methodology for Security Practitioners--A South African Perspective

• NCJ Number: 221579
• Journal: Acta Criminologica Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Dated: 2007 Pages: 61-72
• Author(s): K. Pillay
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa
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Annotation

This article traces the processes in the generation of unit standards-based education and training for the private security industry, the problems encountered, and future training and educational needs that might arise in the industry in South Africa in order to service and provide for the more complex training needs of this particular industry.

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, the private security industry in South Africa has grown at a rapid rate. However, there have been growing concerns raised at the low levels of professionalisation and specialization within the broader private security sector. While efforts were undertaken by the Security Officers’ Board to further professionalisation and growth of a security manager core unit for the industry, the need for better quality control and content evaluation of all the available training course offerings in South Africa arose. In addition, the technical and specialization demands of the changing operations of the industry as a whole placed additional demands on training providers for the industry. These changes were made in conjunction with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requirements for the generation of unit standards by the industry Standard Generating Boards (SGBs), and further facilitated by the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the current regulatory agency, the Private Security Industry Authority (PSIRA) and the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA), in terms of which SASSETA would assist SGBs with the generation of unit standards, as well as the accreditation of training service providers. This paper traces some of these processes, the problems encountered, and looks at future training and educational needs that might arise in the private sector industry in South Africa. References