Bus Driver

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Bus Driver. A Bus Driver drives a bus or coach to transport passengers and their luggage, safely and economically, short and/or long distances on scheduled local and or intercity services over established routes and time schedules. A qualified learner will be able to: • Ensure bus or coach roadworthiness and safety and administer operational documentation. • Operate a bus or coach safely and economically and handle emergency and non-standard situations that may impact on passenger safety and time schedules. • Assist passengers with boarding and disembarking and handle their luggage. A qualified learner will demonstrate the following key attributes: • problem solving and identification • decision making • communicating information and • applying appropriate methods and techniques.

The need for this qualification resulted from the requirement to review and align an expired qualification to meet new policy requirements. Bus transport play a crucial role in the South African economy and culture, both as a means of inter-city transport and long-distance travelling, thus, resulting in an increase in the demand for qualified bus drivers with the knowledge and skills to safely and economically transport passengers of different cultures and different needs in terms of assistance required for embarking, disembarking and luggage handling. This qualification is developed and aligned as a result of this need. The increase of road accidents and incidents is a major concern in South Africa and the most common causes thereof are considered to be reckless or negligent driving, poor road conditions, vehicle defects and mechanical failures, and human factors such as fatigue, stress, and medical conditions. Bus accidents specifically pose a risk of injuries to many people. The Bus Driver qualification focus on all these aspects as well as the ability to drive economically and be more energy efficient. This qualification will benefit the road transport sector and the economy as qualified Bus Drivers with enhanced driving skills (both safety wise and economically) will have the skills to drive economically, provide better assistance to passengers, and decrease the risk of accidents and incidents. Companies employing learners who have successfully completed this qualification will be able to reduce their operational costs and improve overall productivity, leading to economic growth. Road accidents often result in injury or even death which impact negatively on society. Society will thus benefit from drivers with enhanced driving skills resulting in an increase in road safety. Bus Drivers with the skills to drive economically, using less fuel and thereby minimizing the negative impact of greenhouse gas emissions which is a major contributor to global warming and air pollution and have adverse health effects on humans and the environment. By saving on diesel usage, these harmful emissions can be reduced and air quality improved, leading to better public health outcomes. In addition, diesel extraction and refining have ecological impacts, including habitat destruction, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. By reducing the demand for diesel, these environmental consequences can be mitigated, and sustainable resource management promoted. Typical learners of this qualification are those who have a valid and appropriate driver's license and Professional Drivers Permit (PrDP) and interested in transporting passengers as a career. The Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Bus Driver is not complex in nature and provides an opportunity to learners with an NQF Level 2 qualification an opportunity to enter a well-established career as a professional driver in a variety of companies or self-employment. It will further contribute to the development of the learner by providing learners with the skills, knowledge, insights and competencies to enable them to ensure bus roadworthiness, professionally drive and manoeuvre a bus, and provide assistance and services to passengers. Stakeholders from the road transport sector participated in the review of the qualification. Qualifying learners will be able to operate as Bus Drivers or as Coach Drivers.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors. RPL for Credits For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment. A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved. For a Skills Programme, the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) must ensure all modular competency requirements are met prior to the FISA and keep record of such evidence. Upon successful completion of the EISA/FISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification, part-qualification or skills programme. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part-qualification is approved by the QCTO. Entry Requirements: An NQF Level 2 qualification.

• Conduct pre and post trip bus or coach inspection and maintain operational documentation within a managed environment by applying basic key concepts.
• Operate a bus or coach and respond to emergency and non-standard situations by applying appropriate procedures and interpreting information related to the situation.
• Assist passengers with boarding, disembarking, and luggage by selecting and applying appropriate procedures to solve problems.