1. Competency based midwifery education & Direct entry proposal.
Society of Midwives of South Africa: Working group Education
Elgonda Bekker, Sheila Clow, Jenna Morgan, Doreen M’Ritha, Fanny Nyalunga

2. Background International move towards competency based education
International Confederation of Midwives(ICM):
Essential Competencies of Basic Midwife
Global Standards for Education of Midwives and
Global Standards for Regulation of Midwives

3. South African Context
New qualification to be implemented after cessation of legacy qualifications in 2019
SA documents- qualification framework

4. Issue What: Poor compliance of all SA documents with Global standards
Why: “Is a midwife, a midwife, a midwife?”

5. Decisions- Position paper 2016 SOMSA
Recognises and requires that competencies for the practice of midwifery, based upon the ICM Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice (2010), are defined locally, in keeping with the needs of individuals/families and the area of the world where the midwife is practising.
Supports and requires that these essential competencies for midwifery practice be included in the design and implementation of midwifery curricula.
Mandates that a standardized and uniform curriculum should be developed for SA to provide the opportunity for all students to acquire the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours necessary to enable the midwife to practise to the full extent of her role as identified within the ICM Definition of theMidwife (2011).

6. Recognises and supports multiple routes of entry into midwifery that result in a variety of educational programmes, based on the ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Education (2011).
Recognises and requires that midwifery educators be safe and current in their theory and clinical practice according to ICM standards and WHO recommendations.
Recognises the vital role that continuing education plays in the safety and currency of an individual's midwifery practice. It support continuing education updates in keeping with the ethical mandate for advancement of midwifery knowledge and practice as stated in the International Code of Ethics for Midwives (2014).
Recognises that, to strengthen and advance the role of the midwife, a system of continuing professional development should be regulated and in place.

7. Actions: DE proposal: 1. Discipline itself, it should stand alone
2. Implication of having direct entry midwifery for South Africa
3. Curriculum and ICM related supporting documentation
4. Strategy for support

8. Other Actions
Nominal Group

9. Where is midwives’ hearts?