The Covid-19 outbreak has caused a downward spiral in the local economy and the higher education system is no exception. New Era senior journalist Albertina Nakale recently engaged Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) CEO Franz Gertze on the organisation’s outlook for 2021 and beyond amid the pandemic. 

NE: Reflecting on 2020, what are some of your insights as far the education sector is concerned?
FG: We had a very difficult year I must admit. 2020 started with a bang. We started with Covid-19 which came as a total disruption of the way we were doing things. We were looking at the 4th industrial revolution. But Covid came unannounced. It’s an invisible enemy. It is killing people and the education sector had to respond led by government. We prepared ourselves and put measures to mitigate the impacts of Covid. Many parents lost their jobs. Schools and universities were affected and we had to migrate from one mode of delivery to the next. The entire education was caught off guard but also had to make changes in a very limited time. 

NE: The impact of Covid-19 on businesses is well documented. How did the NQA navigate the challenges brought about by the pandemic?
FG: We had to do two things. One is to safeguard the lives of employees and colleagues internally. We also had to look at our mandate to implement and administer the national qualifications framework among others. We recognise all learning despite where it’s offered. The NQA makes provision whether it is e-learning or blended learning as long as it is standard based. We engaged with our partners under the ministry. We had to sit down and talk and guide what options are on the table and what’s the best approach to mitigate impacts brought about by this dangerous virus. We established internally a task team to advise so that we remain responsive in case there is exposure and if there is any exposure, business continuation was upfront. Many people have not stopped studying. We still evaluate qualifications and advise where to go study. Operation is ongoing because people have to be attended to. We sat and invited experts in the field to share their views. The council resolved that our leaders need to be bold in advising our partners.

NE: What is the NQA’s outlook for 2021 and beyond?
FG: The strategy is still in place. The plans are still ongoing. Unfortunately, the term of office for the council ended last year. I can confirm we are back to business as normal with the extension of the council. We are not going to lose feet or direction. We need to adjust our plans to those of the government and clients. It is only through education, you remain competitive. We are planning, learning, and strengthening our position on how do we operate within the challenges of this Covid. We want people to continue studying. We cannot afford to stop studying.

NE: President Hage Geingob has called for resilience this year. How can the education and training sector display resilience, particularly in the face of a pandemic and other societal challenges? 
FG: For me, there is no doubt that education and training should continue. But we must do several things. There must be transformation and change. We are saying resilience, in terms of let’s remain focused on learning. Resilience in terms of affordable and accessible education and training.

NE: What industry transformations are required for Namibia to offer equitable access to education?
FG: There is a change from face-to-face learning brought about by social distancing or reduced number of public gatherings. There is a deliberate move from face-to-face learning to blended and e-learning. The industry must invest more in e-learning. There should be a national rollout across the entire nation of e-learning so we address the issue of low technological drive in some areas then we can bring up equity and access. For me, it is about investing, so parents understand when they do e-leaning at home. It does not help if we advocate for e-learning but processes and structures are not in place. I am glad to see the ministry of education is providing laptops to students and giving enabling funding to the regions, but we need to do more so we can capitalise on the opportunities offered by e-learning. I was listening to the radio and someone was complaining that two years ago, people were laughing at you if you did e-learning. But today, it’s the mode and that’s what the 4th industrial revolution is all about. 

NE: As the training and education industry regulator, how can the NQA continue adding value in an ever-changing and innovation-driven environment?
FG: The purpose of the NQA is to reform, transform, communicate, and ensure quality. That mission remains and we will communicate the importance of the education sector and how it is structured. 

NE: What would you say is required of leaders in a time of crisis such as the Covid- 19?
FG: It is time to rise to the challenge. It’s time to rise to the occasion. We are all leaders in society and we must be very clear. This nation is very small and education is one of the vehicles identified to bring about prosperity. We need leadership both from the young and old ones. Namibia has got opportunities. We are a young nation and we need to capitalise on it. Leadership should be at the forefront of this development both in curbing the impacts of corona but also finding ways for education to prosper within the challenges, we face during corona.

NE: How many education training service providers have the NQA accredited thus far?
FG: The current number of accredited institutions in the country is 58.

NE: You have continuously called for individuals and institutions to adopt a culture of quality when it comes to education. Why is this important? 
FG: We all want quality, no doubt. Parents put money into education and training because they want quality education. Employers support it because they want the best performing individuals. The government is paying for education because they want prosperity. We all want quality. Why should we be happy with poor quality? We must try to provide quality education across the board from pre-primary to retirement.

NE: The challenges of unaccredited or bogus institutions persist in Namibia, what is the long-term solution to this problem?
FG: The law must be made enabling in a sense to allow us to close down these institutions. This time around, we need to talk around those lines. The measures that must be taken should be punitive so that institutions must not take chances. We must consider the type of fines that goes with these institutions once found to be operating without permission to do so. My plea is that the law is strengthened. 

NE: How can the public get involved in rooting out bogus institutions from our communities across the country?
FG: That is a critical question. Education is not a sole mandate from an individual, organisation or a ministry or agency. We all have a responsibility to educate an African child. Society must help. We are considering agreeing with stakeholders to assist us and be our eyes and ears on the ground. If we stand together and not allow the poor of the poorest to be exploited, then we will make headway. In fact, if they are stopped from opening, then we won’t even have to go negotiate with them on how to get accreditation. We have done that for far too long. My request to students, parents and young organisations is let us work together to uproot these institutions. They have no reason to exist.

NE: The 2021 academic calendar will commence in a few weeks, what is the NQA’s message to prospective students, particularly those at the very beginning of their academic journeys? 
FG: To prospective students; make sure you get to the right place. Don’t get exploited. Think before you act. Contact the NQA before you enrol and enquire if the qualification is recognised. If you know this, then your first investment will not be futile.

NE: What is the one piece of advice you would like to share with current or prospective students?
FG: I have two pieces of advice. The first one is you are studying for a particular purpose. Don’t lose focus on that. Make sure you get the best possible education training. If you have questions, contact the NQA. My second piece of advice is we don’t know for how long we will be impacted upon. There will be a mental health challenge students will be facing. Some will even lose people close to them. Let’s remain resilient. Let’s remain focused’ let’s talk, care and help each other.