The desirability of a national body having oversight of certification and linkages between the various education and training sectors was promulgated during the formulation of government education and training policies in the post-independence years. The Government of the Republic of Namibia foresaw the need for a central body to assume responsibility for identifying the competences needed within any occupational area and for establishing policies and procedures that led to the required knowledge and skills being recognised and certificated.

At the same time, Government saw the need for a central body able to mobilise national stakeholders towards: