Agency rolls out plan to secure academic papers

KNQA acting Director General Alice Kande. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Qualifications agency will fast-track plans and policies that will ensure the credibility of Kenya's academic qualifications are maintained.

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) acting Director General Alice Kande said the authority will push for the implementation of plans that had stalled.

"We will ensure that we register more qualification awarding institutions, and rollout Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) nationally among others," said Dr Kande.

Dr Kande was responding to a directive by the Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to the agency to fully implement the National Qualifications Framework.

Speaking during the release of last year's Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination results, Mr Machogu said the government is determined to ensure that the credibility and authenticity of qualifications and certificates by all institutions remain of high quality.

Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF) Act mandates KNQA to coordinate and supervise the development of policies on national qualifications and provide for the recognition of competencies.

Yesterday, Dr Kande said the agency has already developed the Kenya Credit Accumulation and Transfer System policy, and Credit Accumulation and Transfer System for agricultural qualifications aimed at enabling recognition, portability and transferability of prior units of learning or achievement.

"Credit transfers world over are key enablers of quality, efficiency, effectiveness and inclusivity and puts the learner at the centre of their education and training needs," she said.

She added that KNQA, in consultation with its stakeholders, will continue to build the institutional capacity required for the implementation of RPL.

Dr Kande said the authority has developed a management information system to enhance the effectiveness of the process "and we are continuously creating and sensitizing stakeholders about this great initiative through a campaign dubbed KNQA RPL Mashinani."