Kenya National Qualifications Classification Standards (KNQCS)

The KNQF Act mandates KNQA to coordinate and harmonize various levels of education and training by publishing manuals, codes and guidelines on national qualifications. KNQA has developed the Kenya National Qualifications Coding Standard (KNQCS). This standardized system encodes national qualifications and is based on the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Kenya, being a UNESCO member state, has adopted the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) as a global framework for categorizing and comparing education systems worldwide. The KNQCS classifies and codes programmes and resulting qualifications based on three main variables: fields of education and training (ISCED-F 2013), KNQF levels, and levels of educational attainment (ISCED-P 2011).

The purpose of the standard is to provide guidelines for classifying and coding education and training qualifications to facilitate smooth mobility, comparability, and recognition of qualifications within Kenya and globally.