The main functions of the Directorate of National Examinations and Assessment (DNEA) are to provide a national assessment and certification service for the school system, to assist in enhancing the quality of education and with the monitoring of educational standards.

The main objectives are:

• To successfully administer the examination and certification functions of the national school examinations namely, the Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC), the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) and the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Higher Level (NSSCH) examinations as well as the semi-external end of primary (Grade 7) examination.
• To continuously monitor and improve the security of examinations and the efficiency of regional examination offices, heads of examination centres and invigilators.
• To provide information and statistics for the monitoring of quality and standards in the education system.