NQA to host information session in Ongwediva

The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) will have stakeholder engagement sessions during the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair. The session is open to those who wish to learn more about the NQA and the services they offer.

The event will take place on Thursday, 27 August, at the Oshakati Country Hotel and starts at 08h30.

The information sessions will serve as a platform for the NQA to engage with stakeholders to discuss key issues that are affecting stakeholders in the training and education sector.

“Through dialogue, we are better able to understand and respond to our stakeholder’s concerns. We also believe that knowledge is power and this process of engagement will strengthen our efforts to empower Namibians through quality assured qualifications,” said NQA marketing and communications manager Catherine Shipushu.

The session is open to all accredited and non-accredited training providers and other industry associations who will be in the north at the time. The information session will not only clarify the role of the NQA, but also the process of quality assurance in the training and education sector.

Part of the session will be dedicated to discussing accreditation of training providers and unpacking the value it adds to training and education. According to Shipushu, they will also be looking at the process of registering qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

Furthermore, there a strong focus will be placed on the NQA’s role in ensuring that the level of education meets the national standards and that the right skills are developed in the country; employability of graduates and how training providers can contribute towards achieving these national aspirations.

“In this regard, we are hoping to enhance understanding of these processes while also addressing any challenges that our clients may be facing,” she stated.

As the training and education sector regulator, the NQA is tasked with the responsibility of making sure that there is a correlation between qualifications and national needs in terms of skills development.

“Through the process of accreditation, the NQA assesses whether courses offered in Namibia meet the required national standards and that training providers have the capacity to offer such courses,” Shipushu stated.

In addition the NQA also sets occupational standards for jobs as well as curriculum standards required for the achievement of occupational standards for these jobs.

She said: “Some of the key issues the NQA considers when granting accreditation are whether the institution employs appropriately qualified staff, has designed relevant courses and study material, and provides appropriate facilities and resources for students.”

In addition, Shipushu said that the NQA in its capacity as a forum for matters pertaining to qualifications, is committed to ensuring quality education. “NQA thus appreciates the value of fostering and maintaining partnerships with key stakeholders in the sector and leveraging on those relationships to further the national agenda on training and education.”

The NQA will host similar information sessions in Windhoek and Walvis Bay in the near future.

For more information, please contact Catherine Shipushu at: Catherine.Shipushu@namqa.org or tel. 061-384107.