Diploma in Pest Management      

Programme Objective

Entry Requirements

The purpose of this qualification is to develop a new kind of Diploma graduate who is competent in the knowledge, attitudes, insight and skills required to effectively respond to challenges facing society in relation to protecting their crops/livestock, poverty eradication, and food/nutritional security. On successful completion of the program, the graduates should be able to: • efficiently communicate and work with communities to improve their livelihoods in various socio-economic development contexts. • calibrate, handle, and use pest control equipment and inputs with minimal supervision. • identify pests, their damage diagnostics/threshold levels for intervention using environmentally friendly and sustainable strategies, and advice farmers accordingly. • collect field and/or laboratory data, analyse data, and write technical reports as the need arises. • ultimately identify, combat and contain pest problems within natural and agro-allied systems in an ecologically friendly manner

Senior Certificate with Matric exemption or equivalent qualification with a minimum SG (D) or HG (E) symbol in Life Sciences and SG (E) or HG (F) in Mathematics, Physical Science and English.

Using the National Senior Certificate (NSC), the certificate should indicate that ‘the candidate has met the minimum requirements for admission to a diploma or bachelors’ degree study’ and include a minimum achievement rating of Level 4 in Life Sciences and Level 3 in English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences.

Candidates holding a National Certificate Vocational (NCV) Level 4 certificate must meet the statutory requirements and attain a 50% pass in at least three fundamental subjects including LOTL or 60% pass in at least four vocational subjects and 50% or above in Life Sciences. Applicants who do not meet the minimum admission requirements i.e., without a matriculation endorsement but have at least three years of work experience in the field of Pest Management may be considered for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

They must however have attempted the following subjects at NSC level: English, Mathematics, Physical Science and Life Sciences. All applicants will write an aptitude test to establish interest and commitment to the profession and service. Candidates will then be required to submit a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) in the prescribed university format. If the courses to be assessed are primarily university-based, evidence from other areas of learning may be introduced if pertinent to any of the Exit Level Outcomes (ELOs).