After many years of endless efforts to get Bible School training formalised, it had now become a reality. A professional organization called the Association of Christian Religious Practitioners (ACRP) has recently been accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). ACRP is representative of the widest range of denominational and confessional traditions existing in South Africa.
ACRP is authorized to manage all training of persons working in churches and Christian organizations who want to obtain a national qualification on a pre-tertiary level. ACRP assist in the registration of Bible Schools and institutions that operate on this level with the Quality Council for Trades and occupations (QCTO). ACRP is also responsible for quality control of all such training and for managing continuous professional development programs (CPD).
Two national qualifications have been registered with SAQA: one on NQF level 2 (Grade 8 school level) and NQF level 5 (Grade 12 plus one year). Bible schools develop their own learning material according to its confessions and target audience, but these must comply with the standards and requirements of QCTO. The experience and informal learning of persons who have been working in congregations is taken into account and they can receive credits for these. There is no formal school standard required for entering into the NQF 2 level. For NQF 5 grade 12 is required, but there will be opportunity to work towards entry without grade 12.
The courses offered by the Nehemiah Bible Institute (NBI) in Wellington are working towards accreditation. The current CLDP (Christian Leadership Development Program ) and MDP (Ministry Development Program ) will be combined into a NQF 5 qualification and the Sokhanya course (SBP) a NQF 2 qualification. The potential for this new development is huge and an answer to prayer.
Contact dr Danie van Zyl at dcvzyl@gmail.com for more information