Ministry of Education approves Recognition of Prior Learning policy
The Ministry of Education in Kenya has given its approval to the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, which aims to acknowledge the skills of individuals working in the informal sector, even if they lack formal academic credentials.
Administered by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), this policy is set to launch next month and will benefit a diverse group, including immigrants and refugees.
Statistics provided by the government indicate that 92% of young people in Kenya possess competencies obtained through various means, both formal and informal, but lack official certification. Once implemented, this policy will provide recognition and certificates to skilled workers in the informal sector after brief training.
Alice Kande, the Acting Director-General of KNQA, highlighted that RPL is part of the government’s bottom-up agenda, which aims to empower hustlers and provide them with opportunities to secure government jobs and contracts. She made these comments during a press briefing at Eserian Hotel in Naivasha after a validation exercise on the policy.
Kande also emphasized that the revised policy’s validation demonstrates the government’s commitment to excellence and its dedication to improving society. The policy’s objective is to integrate unarticulated, assessed, and certified skills and competencies into the national qualifications database.
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Stanley Maindi, the Director of Technical Services at KNQA, attributed the policy’s delayed launch to its alignment with the bottom-up agenda. He stressed that the policy will enhance job opportunities and keep Kenya competitive on the global stage, given the rapid technological advancements and changing economic paradigms in recent years.
Stanley Kiptis, Chairperson of the KNQA Council, stated that the RPL policy framework will effectively meet the needs of Kenyans, especially those in the informal sector. He emphasized that this framework is not merely a set of guidelines but a commitment to a more equitable and prosperous future for learners and the workforce, with strong support from the Ministry of Education.
Ministry of Education approves Recognition of Prior Learning policy
