The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) has implemented the 10-level Namibian National Qualifications Framework (NNQF), which is a set of principles and guidelines to organize the country's education system and enable national recognition of educational credentials. Credentials on the Framework include Certificates, Diplomas, and degrees.
Secondary education qualifications are at levels 3 and 4. Higher education begins with level 5, which represents the first year of an undergraduate degree program. Postgraduate studies begin with Level 9. This short list, which is not all inclusive, includes vocational, secondary, post-secondary, and higher education qualifications to make it easier to see how all of the credentials complement one another
Level 1: Certificate 1, Basic Pre-Vocational Skills
Level 2: Certificate 2
Level 3: Certificate 3, Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO)
Level 4: Certificate 4, Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary Level (NSSCAS), InSTEM programme
Level 5: Certificate 5, Diploma 5
Level 6: Certificate 6, Diploma 6
Level 7: Certificate 7, Diploma 7, 3-year Bachelor degree
Level 8: Certificate 8, Diploma 8, Bachelor Honours, Professional Bachelor
Level 9: Masters Degree
Level 10: Doctoral Degree
The Namibian National Qualifications Framework also recommends standard credits for degrees, but certificates and diplomas are variable. One year of full-time undergraduate study requires 120 NQF credits. Bachelor degrees at level 7 are comprised of 360 NQF credits, while a level Bachelor requires an additional 120 NQF credits at level 8, for a total of 480 NQF credits. Masters degrees typically last for two years and require 240 NQF credits. Doctoral programs vary depending on numerous factors.
Resources:
African Continental Qualifications Framework: https://acqf.africa/resources/mapping-study and https://acqf.africa/capacity-development-programme/nqfs-learning-materials/6-nqfs-governance-models/the-nqf-evolution-governance-and-implementation-the-namibian-experience-mr-franz-gertze
Namibian National Qualifications Framework (NNQF) Overview. https://acqf.africa/capacity-development-programme/webinars/sadc-qualifications-framework-review-and-way-forward-special-tcca-meeting/session-1_namibia_tcca-meeting-may-2023.pdf/@@display-file/file/session-1_namibia_tcca-meeting-may-2023.pdf.pdf
Namibia Qualifications Authority: https://namqa.org/framework-overview/ and https://namqa.org/nqf-levels/ and https://namqa.org/framework-documents/ and https://namqa.org/nqa-credits/
Namibia Training Authority: https://www.nta.com.na/qualifications/ and https://unitstandards.nta.com.na/
National Council for Higher Education: http://www.nche.org.na/faqs/what-role-nche-nqa-and-namibia-training-authority-nta-terms-quality-assurance and http://www.nche.org.na/quality-assurance/programmes and http://www.nche.org.na/sites/default/files/HEMISannextures.pdf and http://www.nche.org.na/sites/default/files/SAQANJournalCallforpapers.pdf
Regulations Setting up the National Qualifications Framework for Namibia: https://namqa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cd1_REGULATIONS-NATIONAL-QUALIFICATIONS-FRAMEWORK.pdf