The State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has officially launched a nationwide Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme, aimed at certifying the skills of thousands of Kenyans who have gained expertise through informal and non-formal means.
Speaking at the launch held at Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, Joseph Njau, Acting Secretary of TVET, said the initiative serves a twofold purpose: training practitioners and establishing regional committees to oversee the implementation of the RPL programme. "We are inaugurating this workshop to train Recognition of Prior Learning practitioners," Njau explained. "At the same time, we are launching a regional committee that will guide the RPL implementation.
This programme addresses a critical gap where highly skilled individuals, especially those in the 'Juakali' sector, lack certification and therefore miss out on formal employment opportunities." He noted that many talented artisans in sectors such as construction, mechanics, and hospitality have long been disadvantaged because they have no formal papers to validate their skills. "Through RPL, we will assess the skills acquired outside formal education.
If we find them highly quality, we will award official certificates that can be used for employment and contracting opportunities," he said.
