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| Background |
| The ratio of Chartered Accountants to the population of Namibia at the moment lags behind that of the most prominent economies in the SADC region, South Africa, Botswana etc. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN) and the principals of the four major audit firms (Deloitte & Touche, Ernst and Young, KPMG/SGA, PricewaterhouseCoopers) recognised that it will be a significant challenge to increase this ratio. They agreed that the number of Chartered Accountants available to the Namibian economy needs to be increased if Namibia is to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030 and be competitive in the SADC region. |
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| However, passing the Certificate in the Theory of Accountancy (CTA) - a key requirement for all prospective Chartered Accountants - has historically proven to be a difficult challenge for Namibian trainee accountants. |
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| Two aspects to this challenge have been identified: |
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Firstly, the standard of most local accounting graduates does not meet the requirements to successfully proceed from local graduate studies to foreign or distance post graduate studies.
Secondly, at present no tertiary education institution in Namibia offers a local CTA course, and as a result students or trainee accountants have only two alternatives to obtain the qualification. They may pursue studies either through a distance learning programme, generally undertaken whilst in full-time employment, or alternatively enrol for full-time studies at a South African residential university. The distance education route is very difficult given the volume of work that is covered in CTA programmes and the intrinsic difficulties of studying part-time while employed on a full-time basis. In addition, fees for studies in foreign countries are extremely high. Trainee accountants who want to follow the full-time route thus face the dual constraints of finding the funding for full-time study as well as gaining entry into a residential university in South Africa. |
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| In early August 2006 ICAN submitted a project proposal that the two institutions combine their expertise and resources to address the above mentioned challenges. |
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| This resulted in the signing of a cooperation agreement between the PON and ICAN
on 14 November 2006 to establish the Namibia Graduate School of Accounting at the Polytechnic to offer intensive learning support to Namibian CTA candidates.
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| NGSA students were previously required to register for the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) CTA Intermediate and PGDA CTA Advanced programmes. The University of KwaZulu Natal unfortunately discontinued their Distance Learning option for the Intermediate Accounting programme in 2010 and is currently phasing out their Advanced programme as well. |
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| As of January 2011 alternative arrangements made for NGSA students required them to register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences (DIPAC) and the Hons BCompt (CTA) at the University of South Africa (UNISA) for admission to the learning support offered for these programmes at the NGSA. |
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| AGREEMENT WILL ENSURE MORE NAMIBIAN CAs |
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| Dr. Tjama Tjivikua, Rector of the Polytechnic, and Koos duToit, CEO of ICAN, exchange agreements with James van Rooi,Project Co-ordinator of the NGSA, looking on. |
| Click to read the full story |
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| NEW!!! |
FULLY FLEDGED POLYTECHNIC OF NAMIBIA (PON) QUALIFICATION IN ACCOUNTANCY – THE ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN THE THEORY OF ACCOUNTING (ADTA) – 1 YEAR
About the Programme |
This programme has been specifically designed to prepare students who completed their Accounting degrees (NQF Level 7 or equivalent) at institutions that are not accredited by SAICA, and/or through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Namibia (ICAN).
The ADTA programme is endorsed by ICAN and will be offered in 2012 on the full-time and part-time modes at the Polytechnic of Namibia's Windhoek Campus.
Who can apply
- Students who completed their Accounting degrees (NQF Level 7 or equivalent) at institutions that are not accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).
- Students who completed their accounting degrees (NQF level 7 or equivalent) at a SAICA accredited tertiary institution i.e. universities in South Africa, but did not qualify for entry into their Post Graduate CTA programmes. |
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| LONDA Agreement |
Through this agreement qualified Chartered Accountants attached to Londa will offer classes at the NGSA on Saturdays to assist students registered for both the ADTA at PON and the CTA program at Unisa.
Read more on the LONDA Agreement |
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Support to the Namibian CTA students
Applications for support can be submitted directly at Londa.
Contact details: Mr D Koch
P.O. Box 80497
Windhoek
Mobile 0812933193
Tel/Fax +264 61 225775
dennis@londa.edu.na
REGISTRATION WITH UNISA IS A PREREQUISITE FOR CTA LEARNING SUPPORT FROM LONDA. |
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| UNISA Programme structure and Application Procedure |
A new programme structure for the CTA will be implemented for the distance learning mode in 2012. Please see the UNISA website for more information on the transitional arrangements. Application forms are available at http://www.unisa.ac.za
For registration on the CTA programme email Ms Mampuru at mampumm@unisa.ac.za |
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| Contact Persons at Unisa |
Professor Karin Barac
Director, School of Accounting Sciences
Ms Nicky Landman
Secretary, School of Accounting Sciences
+27 12 429 4975
Thoula Bofilatos
Professional Progammes Co-ordinator
Tel: +27 12 429 4357
Fax to email: 086 5215 109
Email: bofilt@unisa.ac.za
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| Further assistance with online applications to UNISA is available at the NGSA Offices, 3rd floor, Office Building, Polytechnic Upper Campus |
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