Renewed hope as more than 2,500 skilled workers certified

Jua Kali artisans in Naivasha. [File, Standard]

Kenya is making strides in empowering individuals with informal and non-formal skills through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative.

The programme is designed to formally recognise and validate the skills. So far, 650 practitioners have been trained and certified, stationed at colleges for the transformative process.

Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) Chairperson Stanley Kiptis announced that, since March, over 2,500 candidates have been assessed and certified through the RPL process.

“They are now eligible for employment and ready for further knowledge acquisition along the skills pathway. They have also been registered in the Kenya National Qualifications Database as credible qualifications,” said Mr Kiptis.

He spoke Wednesday while closing the Africa Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF) forum in Nairobi.

RPL also known as Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), is a process developed under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

It is used to identify, assess and certify an RPL candidate’s knowledge, skills and competencies acquired in non-formal or informal learning, such as work or life experiences, against prescribed standards or learning outcomes.

Kiptis said among beneficiaries of this initiative are refugee population from Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, and Ethiopia living in Kenya.

He said, programme offers a lifeline to the 623,865 refugees and asylum seekers are now on the path to realizing their full potential in both the workforce and the educational sector.

“RPL has presented an opportunity for this critical segment of the population to reap the benefits of formal recognition for their existing skills and knowledge without having to start from scratch,” Kiptis noted.

“In addition, refugees enjoy inclusivity, enhanced confidence, and motivation as well as support for lifelong learning beyond formal classrooms.”

To ensure the continued success of the RPL initiative, Kiptis said, KNQA is actively developing strategies to integrate it into the broader National Qualifications Framework.

He observed that the Kenya Credits Accumulation and Transfer System Policy Framework, which is awaiting Cabinet approval, complements the RPL policy by ensuring a clear pathway for progression.

“A national Policy on Micro-credentials is in the pipeline which will ensure that flexibility in RPL assessments and certification is achieved,” said Kiptis.

The KNQA plays a vital role in developing and implementing the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF), with the goal of aligning Kenyan qualifications to global benchmarks and promoting mobility for workers both within the country and abroad.