Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation Joel Chigona has endorsed the National Framework for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), saying it is a crucial step towards equitable skills development and improved employability. The minister made the endorsement during a courtesy call to Don Bosco Technical College in Lilongwe, which is implementing the project to develop the framework with funding from Don Bosco Tech Africa. Speaking during the meeting, Chigona said 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.
“Through the framework, we want to consolidate all available guidelines into one user-friendly document for seamless dissemination of information to all recognition of prior learning stakeholders and the public,” he said. In his remarks, Don Bosco Technical College principal Father John Musonda said the development of the framework follows a baseline survey on Malawi’s recognition of prior learning system in technical, entrepreneurial and vocation education training (Tevet), which identified gaps and Malawi’s potential. “By officially recognising and certifying existing skills, recognition of prior learning enhances job prospects for individuals, thereby facilitating their entry into the workforce,” he said.
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. RPL is the formal process of recognising and certifying the skills and knowledge that individuals attain through work experience, training and life experience.
