Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation, Joel Chigona, has endorsed the development of a National Framework for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), describing it as a crucial step towards inclusive and equitable skills development and improved employability in Malawi.
He made the endorsement on Wednesday during a courtesy call by Don Bosco Technical College, which is implementing the project to develop the framework with funding from Don Bosco Tech Africa.
RPL is the formal process of recognising and certifying the skills and knowledge that individuals attain through work experience, training and life experience, regardless of where, when and how those skills were acquired.
Speaking during the meeting, Chigona said that once developed, the framework will benefit many stakeholders, including workers seeking to upgrade their skills, employers looking to upskill their workforce, training providers, and government in providing oversight functions and achieving its development goals.
“I am aware that as a country, we already have guidelines which inform the delivery of RPL in the Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) sector,” said Chigona. “Through the framework, we want to consolidate all available guidelines into one user-friendly document for seamless dissemination of information to all RPL stakeholders and the public.”
Chigona called on stakeholders in the TEVET sector to work together in establishing an inclusive and accessible skills development system that values the talents and abilities of all Malawians, which he said aligns with the human capital development pillar of Malawi 2063.
In his remarks, Don Bosco Technical College Principal, Fr. John Musonda, said development of the framework follows a baseline survey on Malawi’s RPL system in TEVET, which identified gaps such as the lack of an RPL framework and Malawi’s potential to successfully implement an RPL system that responds to labour market needs.
Said Musonda: “By officially recognising and certifying existing skills, RPL enhances job prospects for individuals, thereby facilitating their entry into the workforce.”
The proposed framework will identify and recognise prior learning, create pathways for further education and training, enhance employability, and contribute to economic growth and national development.
Statistics presented by the Director of Assessment and Certification Services, Joseph Chirombo, shows that since the piloting of RPL in 2023, a total of 267 candidates, comprising 230 males and 37 females, have been assessed and certified in seven trades. Most of those certified have since secured decent employment.
It is projected that the number of RPL beneficiaries will double by March 2026 following the introduction of five additional trades, some of which are female dominated, as the programme continues to expand nationwide.