Training institutions urged to register with National Qualifications Authority

By Daniel Dembede

The government has asked training institutions across the Country to register their qualifications with the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).

As such, the government warned that going forward, no certificate will be conferred without prior registration. 

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary Dr. Esther Muoria said the directive would be implemented through Policy Framework for the Accreditation system on qualifications, which will provide a framework on the registration. 

“With the establishment of the Kenya National Learners Records Database, the accreditation system will govern the registration process for awarding institutions and their qualifications, and establish a comprehensive database of national qualifications to combat fraudulent certifications,” said Dr Muoria.

She spoke during a workshop to develop standards and guidelines for the national policy framework for accreditation of qualifications, held in Machakos County. 

The Authority, she noted, has so far registered more than 30 higher learning institutions among them Universities.

The institutions have onboarded their qualifications into the Kenya National Learners Record Database (KNLRD), that is under the management of Kenya National Qualifications Authority with a target of about 6,000 learners.

Onboarding of the qualifications aims to ensure that the menace of fake and fraudulent qualifications is eliminated in the Country, as institutions can only onboard their qualifications into the system once they have been registered as Qualification Awarding Institutions (QAIs), by the Authority. 

“Accreditation and registration of qualifications are fundamental pillars in any education system that seeks to be robust, inclusive, and responsive to the demands of an ever-evolving world,” added the PS.

She went on, “A strong qualifications framework is only as good as its standards and guidelines. These standards and guidelines will govern how qualifications will be designed, accredited, and registered in the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

It will determine how we shall maintain a balance between innovation in education and the rigorous standards needed to uphold credibility of our qualifications.” 

KNQA Director General Dr. Alice Kande revealed that the Authority is working with all stakeholders to ensure the right qualifications in the Country.

“We want to train Kenyans based on the labour market. We have seen a lot of responses from various stakeholders and hope more will onboard the system. Universities have shown great interest to register their qualifications in the portal as QAIs,” said Dr Kande. 

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) is implementing the National Qualifications Information Management System (NAQIMS); to manage an accurate, reliable and robust database of all qualifications in the country that will allow for comparability and information sharing in the education sector globally.

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