Skills Development: Vocational Education
in the Islamic Countries
48
3.1. National Technical and Vocational Qualifications Framework (NTVQF) :
Key Features of the NTVQF
The proposed framework has eight levels as shown in the Table 3.1. The first two levels are for
pre-vocational training. These two levels cater for under-privileged and less educated sections
of the community. The awards here are the National Pre-Vocation Certificate 1 and 2.
• At NTVQF1, person will receive a National Skill Certificate – 1 (NSC 1) in their respective
occupation/specialty. It is similar in level to the current basic trade course.
• Levels 2 to 5 are the National Skill Certificates which indicate the skills levels from medium
to highly skilled worker / supervisor.
• Level 6, the Diploma level, is the premier TVET qualification (Khan, Hasan, & Rabbani, 2017,
p. 139)
Table 3.1: Relationship of the NTVQF to the Existing Qualification Structure
NTVQF
Levels
EDUCATION SECTORS Current
Qualification
Structure
Job Classification
Pre-Vocation
Education
Vocational
Education
Technical
Education
NTVQF
6
Diploma in
engineering or
equivalent
4 Year
Diploma
Middle Level
Manager /Sub
Assistant Engr. etc.
NTVQF
5
National Skill
Certificate 5
(NSC 5)
NSS Master Highly Skilled
Worker /
Supervisor
NTVQF
4
National Skill
Certificate 4
(NSC 4)
NSS 1 / HSC
(Voc /BM)
Year 11 & 12
Skilled Worker
NTVQF
3
National Skill
Certificate 3
(NSC3)
NSS 2 / SSC
(Voc) Year 10
Semi-Skilled
Worker
NTVQF
2
National Skill
Certificate 2
(NSC 2)
NSS 3 / SSC
(Voc) Year 9
Basic-Skilled
Worker
NTVQF
1
National Skill
Certificate 1
(NSC 1)
NSS Basic /
Basic Trade
Course
Basic Worker
Pre-Voc
2
National Pre-
Vocation
Certificate NPVC
2
None Pre-Vocation
Trainee
Pre-Voc
1
National Pre-
Vocation
Certificate 1
NPVC 1
None Pre-Vocation
Trainee
Source: Khan et al., 2017, p. 140
Note:
1) The newCBT based NSC 2, 3 &4 courses will replace the existing vocational component of the current
SSC (Voc) and HSC (Voc) and HSC (BM) and be issued as separate qualifications.
2) Students who donot pass the SSC (VOC), but meet the NSC competency standards, will receive an NSC
level qualification and have the opportunity to continue their studies at a training institution that
offers higher level NSC programs in the study area, e.g. at a TTC.