The government has launched a regional training workshop for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) practitioners in the South Rift region as part of efforts to formalize skills in the informal sector and expand access to certified qualifications.
The workshop, held at Holy Trinity ACK Church in Kericho Town, was officially opened by Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Alice Kande, who represented the Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria.
In a speech read on her behalf the PS said the training aims to equip TVET trainers, master craft persons, and workshop technicians with competencies in assessing prior learning, in line with the government’s plan to roll out RPL nationally.
The government aims to increase the number of trained RPL practitioners from 400 to 7,000 by the end of 2025 adding that all 245 functional TVET institutions are to be converted into RPL assessment centers.
“The initiative also targets the assessment and certification of at least 700,000 informal sector workers, including Jua Kali artisans and MSMEs, up from the current 5,170.” She added.
Dr. Muoria explained that RPL provides an opportunity for individuals with skills acquired outside the formal education system to attain formal qualifications, stressing that RPL was especially vital for over 15 million Kenyans employed in the informal sector, many of whom have no academic certification despite years of practical experience.
“Through RPL, they can earn full, partial, or micro-credentials that improve their employability and social mobility.” Dr. Muoria said
She noted that inclusivity is a key objective, with this round of training also involving industry-based master craft persons and TVET workshop technicians adding that this broader inclusion was designed to build a stronger ecosystem of assessors drawn from both the training and industrial sectors.
As part of the ongoing reforms, she further noted that the government was implementing modularization and unitization of TVET programmes to offer flexibility and allow for easier integration with the RPL framework.
“With support from development partners, including the African Development Bank and the MasterCard Foundation, an additional 1,850 artisans and 1,250 workers in the Blue Economy sector will be assessed under programmes such as the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Transformation (KBEST) initiative,” she explained.
The PS pointed out that to enhance the credibility and visibility of qualifications awarded through RPL, the government was registering all certified individuals in the Kenya National Qualifications Database to allow employers, institutions, and international bodies to verify qualifications easily and improve global recognition.
She also mentioned that RPL was actively supporting the government’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) by certifying construction workers, offering TVET students industrial attachment opportunities, and providing Jua Kali artisans with access to institutional equipment and workspace.
She commended the RPL Delivery Unit for its oversight and coordination of the programme and called on all stakeholders to maintain the momentum.
By Kibe Mburu and Abigael Cherono
