In a significant move towards fostering inclusive education and recognizing the diverse skills acquired informally, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has highlighted the government’s commitment to harmonizing skills through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and micro-credentials within the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum.
During the release of the March/July CBET results at the Kenya School of TVET in Nairobi, Machogu underscored the relevance of RPL in light of the Affordable Housing Programme’s potential to create employment opportunities, especially for youth possessing skills acquired outside formal education channels.
“With the Recognition of Prior Learning, we will ensure they have the requisite credentials to facilitate their employment,” stated the Cabinet Secretary.
The initiative aligns with the new National Economic Agenda – the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Experts in the education sector, led by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), have reviewed the RPL policy framework, differentiating unit costs and submitting a comprehensive report to the government.
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reform (PWPER), in a report presented to President William Ruto, recommended the implementation of the RPL policy and Credit Accumulation and Transfer Systems (CATS) in Kenya. The proposal emphasizes the need for increased awareness of RPL and CATS.
Dr. Alice Kande, Ag. Director General/CEO of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), emphasized that RPL serves as a redress mechanism for past inequalities, enhancing employability, mobility, progression, and access within education and training paths.
Internationally, RPL is recognized for lifelong learning, offering access to higher education, awarding credit towards qualifications, facilitating admissions into formal learning institutions, providing advanced standing, and enabling credit accumulation and transfer.
Dr. Kande highlighted the importance of recognizing skills obtained through various methods, both formal and informal, as mandated by the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF) Act Section 8(1) (k). The revised RPL Policy Framework reflects Kenya’s commitment to aligning education policies with global and national agendas.
In attendance at the event was Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education, and Training, emphasizing the government’s dedication to inclusivity, empowerment, and the enhancement of the nation’s human capital through the validation of the revised RPL Policy Framework.