NQA still without board
The National Qualification Authority (NQA) has been operating without a council since February this year and the minister of higher education, training and innovation, Itah Kandjii-Murangi, says she is not certain when a governing body will be appointed.
According to her, a verification process of nominees against the public enterprise ministry's database is currently in progress and may take some time.
“It is difficult to say when this will be completed. Once all the consultations are done then it will be submitted to the cabinet,” Murangi says.
The ministry's permanent secretary, Alfred van Kent, says the absence of a council has not caused major disruptions or delays because it meets on a quarterly basis.
Van Kent says accreditation is a major process and its duration may vary from institution to institution since each organisation is evaluated on its own merits.
“There may have been some delays with some approvals in terms of accreditation, but there are some committees and operational structures in place that deal with many of these processes.”
The NQA management declined to comment on the implications of an absent board.
“Due to the nature of these questions, the NQA hereby advises that they should be directed to the appointing authority, the minister of higher education, training and innovation,” NQA spokesperson Catherine Shipushu said.
The NQA is governed by a council of 36 members who are appointed by and report to the minister of higher education, training and innovation.
The council is appointed for a term of three years and includes persons from government ministries, parastatals, professional associations as well as from the private economic sector groups.
The last council was chaired by Martha Mbombo, acting permanent secretary in the ministry of gender equality and child welfare.
JEMIMA BEUKES
According to her, a verification process of nominees against the public enterprise ministry's database is currently in progress and may take some time.
“It is difficult to say when this will be completed. Once all the consultations are done then it will be submitted to the cabinet,” Murangi says.
The ministry's permanent secretary, Alfred van Kent, says the absence of a council has not caused major disruptions or delays because it meets on a quarterly basis.
Van Kent says accreditation is a major process and its duration may vary from institution to institution since each organisation is evaluated on its own merits.
“There may have been some delays with some approvals in terms of accreditation, but there are some committees and operational structures in place that deal with many of these processes.”
The NQA management declined to comment on the implications of an absent board.
“Due to the nature of these questions, the NQA hereby advises that they should be directed to the appointing authority, the minister of higher education, training and innovation,” NQA spokesperson Catherine Shipushu said.
The NQA is governed by a council of 36 members who are appointed by and report to the minister of higher education, training and innovation.
The council is appointed for a term of three years and includes persons from government ministries, parastatals, professional associations as well as from the private economic sector groups.
The last council was chaired by Martha Mbombo, acting permanent secretary in the ministry of gender equality and child welfare.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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