NQA warns of bogus institutions

The Namibian Qualifications Authority (NQA) invited the media to clarify and explain what they are all about on 1 March at Avani Hotel. The main aim of the breakfast was to really drive the message through that fly by night education institutions will not be tolerated in Namibia.
Franz Gertze Chief Executive Officer of the NAQ said that they demand quality from all educational institutions and they make sure the NQA is easily accessible to the public who may have questions about an institution or who want to report fraudulent institutions. “We have 41 providers of our booklet country wide, that clearly indicates which institutions are NQA accredited and we have a fraud hotline and advisory services in place for the public and institutions to use.” he added.
He emphasised that because education is very important and that people do pay a lot of money to get an education, it is not fair for people to exploit this. “We have come across institutions that we evaluate and they have every thing, classrooms, computers, teachers and students, but when you go back a month or two later the story has changed,” he said.
Polli Andima, Head of Accreditation at NQA added that because the Namibia Qualifications Authority Act (Act 29 of 1996) states that for the NQA to give accreditation to an institution, the institutions already has to have registered students, and it can take the NQA up to a year to accredit an institution. “Therefore if we do not give accreditation to that institution, the students would have wasted a year, and will they get a refund? That is why we are busy speaking to the relevant authorities to amend the Act, so that students and parent will not be trapped in this situation” he emphasised.
Catherin Shipushu, Marketing and Communication Manager added that the public should call or come to the NQA to make sure that a specific institution is accredited by them and not just get reassurances from that institution that they are accredited or busy getting accreditation before they register.
Gertze conclude that without the NQA there would be no integrated framework for learning achievements, an enhanced quality of education and training and no access, mobility and progression in education, training and careers.