Qualifications
Background
Development
National Qualifications Framework
Training Manuals & Curricula
Contact
Background
Qualifications developed by the NTA are made available in the public domain.
A qualification is any award that represents the attainment, following robust assessment processes, of a coherent cluster of specified outcomes of learning to prescribed standards of performance.
A competence/unit standards-based qualification is comprised of components called unit standards. Each unit standard represents an outcome of learning and/or a work activity that is a significant part of what a qualification certificates.
Please click here to access the NTA Qualifications & Unit Standards Portal.
Development
The Namibia Training Authority develops and reviews national Vocational Education and Training qualifications for registration on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
We involve and rely heavily on the input and participation of industry and other stakeholders in the development process to ensure the relevance of the developed materials. We further ensure that developed materials are of ‘registrable’ quality as stipulated by the registration requirements of the NQF. We benchmark developed materials with international best practices while industry involvement ensures that materials are contextualised to suit local needs.
Scroll down to below the Frequently Asked Questions, to access in alphabetical order, lists of Qualifications developed by the Namibia Training Authority, and which are available in the public domain.
National Qualifications Framework
Qualifications are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), according to their level of complexity. The NQF consists of a number of fields of learning, subfields and domains known as the NQF Classification System. Qualifications and unit standards are placed on the NQF according to their level and an approved item from the NQF Classification System. The NQF for Namibia has 10 levels and our sister organisation, the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) is the custodian of the NQF. The NQA has developed a level descriptor for each of the 10 levels. Qualifications and unit standards are normally registered on the NQF with a notion ‘National/Namibian’, or without. A recognised national body must submit qualifications carrying the term ‘National’ or ‘Namibia’ in its title. Qualifications without that notion are often referred to as institution-specific and do not necessarily lead to recognition of attainment of learning at a national level.
A recognised national body would be one that has explicit credibility as being able to represent the interests of national stakeholders and relevant social partners. The NTA can identify a representative group of an industry to spearhead the development of unit standards and qualifications in their sector with the NTA providing guidance to the process to ensure quality and adherence to NQF requirements.
The body responsible for submission of such materials to the NQA is the NTA.
Training Manuals & Curricula
To enable coherent training delivery, the VET Standards Division is also responsible for developing and maintaining competence-based curricula, training manuals and training delivery guides on a national level. Training manuals and curricula can be procured through our Printing & Distribution Unit at a unit cost of N$25,00 (twenty-five Namibia dollars).
For more information on orders and deliveries, contact 061 2078 589 or etimbo@nta.com.na
Contact
For qualifications, contact us at 061 2078 655/597 / 519, or ahaufiku@nta.com.na
A qualification is any award that represents the attainment, following robust assessment processes, of a coherent cluster of specified outcomes of learning to prescribed standards of performance.
A competence/unit standards-based qualification is comprised of components called unit standards. Each unit standard represents an outcome of learning and/or a work activity that is a significant part of what a qualification certificates.
All qualifications are registered on the National Qualifications Framework, according to their level of complexity.
The NQF consists of a number of fields of learning, subfields and domains known as the NQF Classification System. Qualifications are placed on the NQF according to their level and an approved item from the NQF Classification System.
The NQF for Namibia has 10 levels and our sister organization, the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) is the custodian of the NQF. The NQA has developed a level descriptor for each of the 10 levels.
A credit is a measure of the quantum of learning recognised through qualifications and unit standards. One credit equates to 10 hours of notional learning time, which is inclusive of directed, and self-directed learning and assessment.
Developing qualifications (and unit standards) is an activity that sits firmly as a responsibility of the industry or profession that requires such qualifications for formal recognition and/or selection purposes.
The NTA as a national recognised body responsible for quality of Vocational Education and Training (VET) provision in Namibia, coordinates the development of VET unit standards and qualifications. However, the required technical input comes from the industry itself through various platforms of consultations as required by the NQF regulations.
It is an NQF requirement for the development processes to be inclusive of the meaningful involvement of relevant stakeholders and social partners and for the developing bodies to obtain support for, and preferably endorsement of the coverage and structure of developed/reviewed qualifications by such stakeholders and social partners.
Examples of stakeholders involved in the processes of qualification development may include, but are not limited to employers, employee organisations, education and training providers relevant to the sector, professional or registration associations and bodies, and relevant government departments and agencies.
Qualifications (and unit standards) are normally registered on the NQF with a notion ‘National/Namibian’ or without.
In many cases, the development of qualifications will be prompted and overseen or managed by a national body (e.g. NTA) recognised by the NQA. Qualifications carrying the term ‘National’ or ‘Namibia’ in its title must be submitted by a recognised national body.
Qualifications without that notion are often referred to as institution-specific and do not necessarily lead to recognition of attainment of learning at a national level.
A recognised national body would be one that has explicit credibility as being able to represent the interests of national stakeholders and relevant social partners.
The NTA can identify a representative group of an industry to spearhead the development of unit standards and qualifications in their sector with the NTA providing guidance to the process to ensure quality and adherence to NQF requirements. The body responsible for submission of such materials to the NQA will be the NTA.