The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) this week awarded accreditation certificates to four institutions of higher learning. The certificates were awarded to the Institute of Open Learning, the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Vocational Training School, the National Youth Service and the United Lutheran Theological Seminary Paulinum.

The award ceremony was the first of its kind for the NQA as they had never held a dedicated ceremony to award certificates to education institutions. " It is our first time to have such a ceremony because in the past we just saw that the institutions had passed the required criteria to be accredited and was therefore accredited," said NQA Council Chairman, Prof Eckhart Mueller.

Mueller stated that the occasion was not only important for institutions but for Namibia as a whole. He said the NQA is in the process of completing its new offices which are set to open later this year or early next year.

Speaking at the ceremony, National Youth Service Commissioner, Onesmus Ipindi said that he was happy that the NQA had finally recognised the youth service. "It was a long process. We had to compete with higher institutions and we have experienced difficulties in financial resources for equipment and material but we have finally managed to get our recognition".

One of the strategic objectives of the NQA is to start a panel for discussion between small and big institutions to generate new ideas on improved collaboration for better education and qualifications.