Teachers’ Azaliah diplomas recognised

ABOUT a thousand teachers with qualifications recognised by the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) have new hope that their salaries will be brought in line with those of their colleagues.

The Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) announced on Wednesday that protracted talks with the NQA and the Ministry of Education had been concluded, and that the NQA will now recognise the teachers’ qualifications. The teachers’ troubles date back to the days of the now defunct private Azaliah college, at which many would-be teachers enrolled for their entry-level diplomas.In late 2000, Government announced that Azaliah’s diplomas were not recognised in Namibia, and students were then warned to stop studying at the college.However, many of the students who had already completed the Azaliah entry-level diploma course had gone on to study further through international institutions such as Unisa, Vista, and various South African universities and colleges.The NQA refused to recognise these qualifications, saying that since the students’ entry-level diplomas were not valid, they were not entitled to obtain higher qualifications.Nantu on Wednesday announced that the NQA had decided to recognise these qualifications, but added that this would be a one-off concession.”From now on, no request to recognise any qualification, for which entry requirements have not been met at the time of enrolment, will be entertained,” said Nantu Secretary General Basilius Haingura.”All institutions offering teacher education programmes should comply with the accreditation requirements of the NQA,” he said.Haingura said there are about 750 affected students on record, but it is assumed that the actual number is over 1 000.The recognition of the teachers’ qualifications is being done mainly for salary purposes, he said.”This implies that for salary recognition purposes the qualification will be treated like any other newly submitted qualification and not retrospectively,” he said.The teachers’ troubles date back to the days of the now defunct private Azaliah college, at which many would-be teachers enrolled for their entry-level diplomas.In late 2000, Government announced that Azaliah’s diplomas were not recognised in Namibia, and students were then warned to stop studying at the college.However, many of the students who had already completed the Azaliah entry-level diploma course had gone on to study further through international institutions such as Unisa, Vista, and various South African universities and colleges.The NQA refused to recognise these qualifications, saying that since the students’ entry-level diplomas were not valid, they were not entitled to obtain higher qualifications.Nantu on Wednesday announced that the NQA had decided to recognise these qualifications, but added that this would be a one-off concession.”From now on, no request to recognise any qualification, for which entry requirements have not been met at the time of enrolment, will be entertained,” said Nantu Secretary General Basilius Haingura.”All institutions offering teacher education programmes should comply with the accreditation requirements of the NQA,” he said.Haingura said there are about 750 affected students on record, but it is assumed that the actual number is over 1 000.The recognition of the teachers’ qualifications is being done mainly for salary purposes, he said.”This implies that for salary recognition purposes the qualification will be treated like any other newly submitted qualification and not retrospectively,” he said.