Kenya among first six countries to reference her National Qualification Framework to the African Continental Qualifications Framework

Kenya is proud to be among countries on the Continent that have been at the forefront of aligning its policies with the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF).

It is for this reason that it is among the first six (6) Countries to reference her National Qualification Framework (KNQF) to the African Continental Qualifications Framework which aligns with Agenda 2063, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Its goal is to enhance transparency, comparability, and mutual trust among qualifications frameworks across Africa, facilitating mobility and lifelong learning.

The ACQF Policy is being implemented through seven thematic areas which are; Referencing of National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) and systems to the ACQF; Supporting recognition of prior learning; ACQF Qualifications Platform (database); Qualifications structure; Capacity development; Advocacy, communication, networking, and cooperation; and Analysis, monitoring, and evaluation.

Therefore, Referencing is a process of comparison and linking national qualifications frameworks to the ACQF and is done through the national qualifications frameworks or, where these do not exist, national qualifications systems.

The referencing process determines correspondence level to level between the NQF and the ACQF and by this process; national qualifications included in the referenced NQF are in turn referenced to the ACQF.

This is a key outcome of the process. Therefore, referencing of Kenya National Qualification Framework (KNQF) to ACQF will improve transparency, clarity, credibility and mutual trust between KNQF and other NQFs and systems.

In the context of the ACQF Policy, referencing is core and involves comparing and linking NQFs and Regional Qualifications Frameworks (RQFs) to the ACQF. This process fosters mutual understanding, transparency, and comparability, thereby facilitating the recognition and mobility of individuals.

Referencing to ACQF is good for the countries (and regions) and good for the continent, as it is a process of self-assessment contributing to improvement, renewing stakeholders' dialogue, enhancing visibility and understanding of the national qualification framework (NQF) at a national level, and to improve mutual trust and transparency between different national and regional qualifications frameworks across the continent.

It is important to note that at the national level (Kenya), referencing will contribute to the self-assessment of the status of the national qualifications framework and system to identify areas for reform and improvement and to draw attention to the NQF among national policy institutions and stakeholders.

At the continental level and between countries, referencing the ACQF of a significant and increasing number of national qualifications or systems will lead to the creation of a common area of trusted qualifications and enable the transformative potential of the ACQF for the continent

Criteria of Referencing

It is important to note that the referencing process, adopted a 4 criteria approach that entails; a comparison of level descriptors; a comparison of Learning Outcomes; an analysis of transparent procedures for inclusion of qualifications in the NQF and or register of qualifications and finally the analysis of the country's education and training quality assurance system.

Referencing exercise which was launched during the 2^nd ACQF Forum held in Luanda Angola from 4^th-5^th September 2024 is expected to feature prominently at a four-day training workshop in Nairobi that is expected to attract more than 32 participants from 20 African countries and 4 economic regions as well as participants' higher learning institutions in Kenya.

The 3^rd continental "Forum of the Institutions of National Qualifications Frameworks", organised by the African Union, African countries, Regional Economic Communities and the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) will take place in Nairobi, from 1^st to 4^th October 2024, at the Hotel Fairview will officially be opened by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.

Referencing will ensure that there is trust in the Quality assurance of the qualifications of ACQF member countries and create a link between the Quality assurance of member states and the Quality assurance instruments available in the continent. One objective of the ACQF is to foster trust in the quality of qualifications of the Member States.

Given that there may be several Quality assurance systems operating in one country, the referencing process is an opportunity to bring coherence to the system. It also presents an opportunity to present the country's response to the quality assurance of the learning outcomes approach used in the country.

The writer is the Director General of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA). [e-mail]