VERTICAL progression within the qualification system shall develop, classify and recognise knowledge, skills and competencies along a continuum of agreed levels.
The Zimbabwe National Qualification Framework (ZNQF) shall structure existing and new qualifications which are defined by learning outcomes.
The framework shall include all the key sectors of Basic Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education.
This framework creates opportunities for vertical progression from lower to higher qualification within the same institution as well as vertical progression from one institution to another institution, for example, from Higher National Diploma to Bachelor of Technology exempting credits already accumulated in prior qualifications as illustrated below.
The goal is to ensure that education and training institutions and qualification awarding bodies appreciate each other’s qualification as legitimate and accept whole or part of credits connected to a qualification.
This shall remove barriers and make national qualification systems easier to understand and compare.
All the above fundamental issues shall be realised through activities co-ordinated by the three qualification agencies and awarding bodies, namely; Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC), Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO), and Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE).
ZIMSEC
The functions of the Council shall be;
– to organise and conduct such examinations in subjects that form part of a course of primary or secondary education as the Minister may in writing direct;
– to consider and approve subjects suitable for examinations;
– to appoint panels or boards of examiners;
– to approve and register examination centres;
– to review rules and regulations relating to examinations;
– to confer or approve the conferment of certificates, diplomas and other awards to persons who have passed examinations;
– to enter into arrangements, whether reciprocal or otherwise, with persons or organisations inside or outside Zimbabwe for the recognition of certificates, diplomas and other awards granted in respect of examinations organised or conducted by the Council;
– to do all things necessary to maintain the integrity of the system of examinations in respect of primary and secondary education in Zimbabwe;
– register basic education qualifications on the ZNQF; and.
– to do any other thing that the Council may be required to do by or under the ZIMSEC Act or any other enactment.
HEXCO
The functions of the Council shall be to:
– develop TVET curricula;
– administer national TVET examinations;
– certificate TVET candidates;
– register public and private TVET institutions;
– assess local and foreign TVET qualifications;
– administer apprenticeship training programmes;
– to consider and approve subjects suitable for examinations;
– to appoint panels or boards of curriculum developers and examiners, for TVET;
– to approve and register examination centres;
– to design and recommend an institutional quality assurance system for TVET, that is, a system whereby the courses, programmes and diplomas offered by institutions are evaluated on a regular and objective basis, and to recommend to the Minister institutional quality assurance standards for the establishment, standardisation and accreditation of TVET institutions including standards of the physical plant and equipment;
– register TVET qualifications on the ZNQF; and
– to do any other duty that the Council may be required to do by or under the HEXCO Statutory Instrument or any other enactment.
ZIMCHE
ZIMCHE shall carry out the following functions that shall be:
– to advise the Minister on all higher education matters;
– to develop and recommend policy on higher education including the establishment of public institutions and advise the Minister accordingly;
– to accredit institutions of higher education;
– to design and recommend an institutional quality assurance system for higher education, that is, a system whereby the courses, programmes and degrees offered by institutions are evaluated on a regular and objective basis, and to recommend l to the Minister institutional quality assurance standards for the establishment, standardisation and accreditation of institutions of higher education including standards of the physical plant and equipment;
– the preparation and amendment of university charters and statutes;
– the development of curricula;
– the standards of libraries;
– the safety standards of laboratories and workshops; and
– student transfer between programmes and institutions of higher education;
– to advise on the shape and size of the higher education system;
– to advise on the budgeting and funding arrangements for higher education for public institutions;
– to assist institutions of higher education in the training of high calibre staff;
– to promote equity in access to higher education through the provision of student assistance programmes;
– to promote international co-operation and facilitate exchanges in higher education; and
– register degree qualifications on the ZNQF.
Understanding the ZNQF: Part Three …strategies for achieving vertical progression in education and training
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