Nacte digs in on its application process

Dar es Salaam. The National Council of Technical Education (Nacte) has reiterated its position that all diploma graduates who want to pursue bachelor’s degree courses should apply for an Award Verification Number (AVN) before enrollment.

At a press conference Friday, Nacte head of admission Twaha Twaha said graduates could access AVNs online on the Council’s website.

The system, which was introduced in the 2017/18 academic year, helps universities and other institutions of higher learning to verify academic credentials of an applicant.

“After the government decided to decentralise the application system, most diploma holders were rejected by universities because they couldn’t verify their credentials and that is why we introduced the AVN,” said Mr Twaha.

He said that a diploma holder, who wants to apply for the AVN, is required to attach his/her certificates, transcript and the name of the institute from which he/she graduated.

Mr Twaha said after finishing filling in all the required information an applicant will get the AVN immediately.

However, he said sometimes it might take longer for the applicants, who wouldn’t fill in all the important information.

“In some cases, for those who studied abroad, it might take longer because we (Nacte) must verify with the institutions from which an applicant studied,” said Mr Twaha.

According to him, since the system became operational, more than 9,000 diploma holders have acquired the AVNs.

He denied claims that some institutions have been delaying the release of transcripts, resulting in applicants not obtaining AVNs.

“The basis of the claims was that this could somehow force the diploma holders to continue to study in the same institutions,” said Mr Twaha.