NQA to check on Malaysian college

WINDHOEKFAITH SANKWASA

The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) is to investigate the qualifications conferred by a Malaysian college where 45 Namibian students are enrolled.
The students at Binary College are worried that the qualifications they are studying towards might not be recognised by the NQA.
Some of the students, who are government bursary holders, have told Namibian Sun that courses such as an advanced diploma in entrepreneurship are not recognised in Malaysia.
The other students are following courses in information technology (IT), transport and logistics, event management, agriculture and hotel management.
NQA Director Franz Gertze told Namibian Sun that diplomas or degrees conferred by non-accredited institutions are not recognised in Namibia.
Gertze said following the recent reports about Binary College, the NQA on Monday requested its Malaysian counterpart to provide information about the status of the institution.
Gertze said as soon as the feedback is received, the NQA would consider whether to advise the students to change courses or drop out.
"The international rule applies, when a particular country's citizen enrols and graduates in a foreign accredited qualification, such a qualification will be recognised in his or her country.
"If such a qualification is not recognised, it will also not be recognised by the qualification authority of the host country," Gertze said.
Last week, the Binary College students raised alarm about their situation at the college, which claims to have become a university last year. They said it is a questionable institution that is very good at misrepresenting itself.
In an email sent to Namibian Sun, they said they were lured to the college with promises such as state-of-the-art computers, wireless internet and indoor sports activities, which turned out to be non-existent.
Education Minister David Namwandi, who was in Kuala Lumpur last week, responded to their complaints by visiting Binary College and demanding that it make drastic changes to improve the situation of the Namibian students.
The students, who arrived in Malaysia on May 24, alleged that they have to pay for water, electricity, gas for cooking, stationery and transport to and from the campus despite being awarded full scholarships.
Namwandi further called for stricter checking of overseas colleges and universities by the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) before Namibians are sent there.