BQA Update Stakeholders on Registration of Qualifications
Correspondent | Friday June 8, 2018 16:02
Higher Education and Training Providers were informed that instruments for the process have been developed, 54 experts and staff trained and hence the plan to commence the registration of qualifications on the National Credit and Qualifications Framework.
BQA held a one day workshop to updates Higher Education ETPs on transition and to further consult on some key registration and accreditation instruments
Dr Justice Gaeonale, acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer said that 92 qualifications have been submitted for registration and these are from ETPs that have registered and accredited with BQA under the new system.
He said of the 96, 66 have moved to the next stage which included validation by subject matter experts. The rest have been audited and sent back to the ETPs for review.
He acknowledge that there has been delays in the process and committed to ensuring that the needful is done. He lamented lack of subject matter experts in certain fields/ subfield which may hinder progress. He invited participants to avail their competent personnel to assist in this exercise. He said the implementation of NCQF is new and therefore issues of capacity are experienced hence the engagement of a Framework Specialist to assist.
“ It took time to find the right expertise to assist the BQA with the development of Guiding documents; staff needed to be trained to implement the new system and this formed part of the preparatory work”, said Dr Gaeonale. He expressed the need for more experts. The experts are sourced locally and internationally especially in SADC to ensure alignment which will enable learner mobility and portability of qualifications.
The implementation of the National Credit and Qualification Framework (NCQF) got off to a slow start due to preparatory work. It is now expected to start in earnest.
BQA Acting CEO Selebo Auma Jobe lamented that it is not only Botswana that is currently transitioning its education but the whole region of Southern Africa, something that has execrated the shortage of experts in the field as the little pool is currently being shared around the region, “The region is transitioning, whether you are talking about Zambia, Namibia, Swaziland, every country is in transition just like us”, she said.
The application form for registration as an expert are available on the BQA website: Online submissions.