NQA urges caution on unaccredited institutions

NKURENKURU, 06 NOV (NAMPA) - The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) on Tuesday held an information session with the Kavango West Regional Education Directorate to discuss the accreditation of education institutions, evaluation of qualifications, and the administration of the national qualifications framework.
NQA Corporate Communications Manager, Lina Ndengu, emphasised the importance of awareness about unaccredited institutions.
“We want people to be vigilant and to verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling,” Ndengu said.
She said representatives from the education sector were invited as they are well-positioned to inform communities about these risks.
Ndengu further warned that accreditation is specific to campuses, saying if an institution in Windhoek is accredited, it does not automatically mean its campuses elsewhere are accredited.
“We do individual campus accreditation. A lot of institutions that have campuses in the city don’t apply for extension of small campuses in other regions. It is very important to know where your institution stands to avoid wasting your resources and time,” she said.
Nkurenkuru Deputy Mayor, Fanny Kaundu, expressed appreciation for the NQA’s efforts and urged participants to use this knowledge to make informed decisions.
“The decisions we make concerning qualifications and accreditation not only impact learners and education institutions, but also resonate throughout our economy and society at large,” said Kaundu.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, the NQA also donated reusable sanitary pads to Kandjimi Murangi Secondary School during the session.
(NAMPA)
JLN/AS