Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) recently held a strategic engagement with the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) to explore ways of strengthening collaboration on the verification, authentication, and evaluation of qualifications for recruitment, promotions, and learning and development within the Public Service.
The engagement formed part of ongoing efforts to enhance the integrity and credibility of qualifications used for employment and career progression decisions across Government institutions.
Speaking during the meeting, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of BQA, Mr Ofentse Disang, underscored the critical role played by qualification verification and evaluation services in safeguarding the integrity of Botswana’s education and qualifications system. He noted that these services are central to BQA’s mandate and contribute significantly to ensuring public confidence in qualifications presented for employment and professional development purposes.
Mr Disang explained that BQA is responsible for verifying the authenticity of local qualifications to confirm that certificates presented by individuals have been legitimately awarded by recognised institutions. In addition, the Authority evaluates and verifies foreign qualifications to determine their equivalence and appropriate placement within the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCQF).
The meeting noted a growing demand for qualification verification and evaluation services from DPSM and other organisations. Requests are increasingly being submitted to support recruitment processes, promotions, staff development initiatives, and the determination of appropriate qualification levels for various employment purposes.
Participants further acknowledged that qualifications bearing similar titles may differ significantly in content, quality, and level. Through its evaluation processes, BQA ensures that qualifications are accurately classified and aligned to the NCQF, thereby supporting informed and fair decisions relating to employment, career advancement, and learning opportunities.
Recognising DPSM’s role as Government’s largest recruiter and sponsor of employee development, both institutions agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation to address risks associated with relying solely on presented certificates without confirming their authenticity and equivalence. Such collaboration is essential in promoting merit-based recruitment and maintaining the credibility of qualifications used within the Public Service.
The discussions also explored opportunities for establishing a more structured and formal framework for collaboration between BQA and DPSM. This includes consideration of future legislative measures that could strengthen qualification verification and evaluation processes across Government institutions.
The engagement reflects a shared commitment by both organisations to uphold the integrity of qualifications, enhance public sector human resource practices, and ensure that decisions relating to recruitment, promotion, and staff development are based on verified and appropriately evaluated qualifications.
BQA remains committed to working closely with key stakeholders to protect the integrity of Botswana’s qualifications system, promote confidence in qualifications, and support national human resource development through quality assurance and credible qualification recognition services.