15 May 2017

The new National Credit and Qualifications System (NCQF) which is anchored on credit accumulation and transfer as opposed to the duration of study will allow students to take breaks in between their studies, says Dr Andrew Molwane.
Dr Molwane said during Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) stakeholders’ consultation meeting in Kanye on Thursday that this would be made possible by the credit bank inherent with the system.
This, he said, is unlike the old system, which did not take into consideration the number of credits accumulated by a student in the event they discontinued their studies for various reasons.

“Credits are the building blocks of an education and training system,” he said.
The system, according to Dr Molwane, will among other things determine equivalence of qualifications, and help place qualifications on appropriate levels.
He also said the current fragmented education system will be a thing of the past.

The status quo where, for instance early childhood, tertiary and vocational education and training, higher education as well as general education operate in isolation will change for the better.
Further, Dr Molwane  relayed the system would go a long way in addressing mismatch of skills and industry needs by working closely with important stakeholders among others, Human Resource Development Councils, student councils as well as education and training providers.

To this end, Dr Molwane stated that BQA was currently engaging stakeholders and building capacity in this transitional period to ensure the system is successful.
Botswana Union of Students secretary general, Mr Blessing Lechane welcomed the new system, especially the component of students’ council involvement in decision-making within learning centres.
“Students will form part of auditing teams to ensure compliance by ETPs at all times,” he said, adding that this would help curb students’ discontent, which often times leads to strikes.

The BQA is a parastatal within the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology established by law as a regulatory body to provide for the design, development, implementation and maintenance of the all-encompassing NCQF.
The parastatal is also charged with coordination of a common quality assurance platform for education, training and skills development system for all qualifications. BOPA