Institutions to Offer Recognition of Prior Learning Certificate
Institutions to Offer Recognition of Prior Learning Certificate
Institutions to Offer Recognition of Prior Learning Certificate
President William Ruto’s Cabinet approved the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy on January 15, making it possible for Kenyans who have never attended school to obtain professional qualifications. Identifying, evaluating, and certifying knowledge, abilities, and attitudes—regardless of how, when, or where learning took place—is known as response planning and validation (RPL).
Only establishments accredited by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) may grant the RPL certificate. At the moment, KNQA only certifies four types of institutions that meet the Ministry of Education’s accreditation requirements.
Institutions Qualified to offer RPL certificates
All Kenyan universities formed under regulations set by the University Act no 42 of 2012 are eligible to offer RPL certificates upon certification. Currently, Kenya has 35 public universities.
Kenyan national polytechnics may also be granted a court order allowing them to grant RPL certificates. Kenya presently has eleven national polytechnics, including those in Kabete, Eldoret, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, and Kitale. The others are Nyandarua National Polytechnic, North Eastern, Sigalagala, Kisii, and Kenya Coast.
Institutions Under Government Ministries
Institutions under government ministries with a legal authority to grant qualifications make up the third group of schools eligible to award RPL certificates.
The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) is leading the way in providing RPL certificates under this category. At the moment, NITA operates training facilities in Athi River, Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kisumu. The fourth group authorized to provide the certificates is defined by KNQA as “institutions established by an Act of Parliament to develop and award qualifications.” In addition to Kenyan-based institutions, international establishments that are recognized as qualification awarding institutions in their home nations may be certified by KNQA to grant RPL certificates to citizens of Kenya.
