Nyeri: Mathenge Technical Training Institute has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first technical training institute in the country to host a graduation ceremony for individuals certified under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Programme.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event saw 61 individuals, including 39 artisans from the Ruring’u Affordable Housing Project, receive formal certifications in various trades. This initiative recognizes the skills acquired through practical work experience, a major step forward for many who have previously lacked formal academic credentials.
Dr. Esther Muoria, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), highlighted the importance of the RPL Programme in formally acknowledging the skills of Kenya’s informal workforce. She emphasized that this initiative could help restore dignity to millions of workers who have been excluded from job opportunities due to the lack of certification.
Dr. Muoria pointed out that the programme aligns with international labor standards and Sustainable Development Goal Number Four, focusing on lifelong learning. She added that the RPL certificates have equal value to those obtained through formal education and are widely recognized.
Dr. Stanley Maindi, Director of the RPL Delivery Unit, noted the government’s commitment to expanding the RPL initiative as part of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda. He revealed that over 3,500 skilled workers have been assessed in the past six months, with support from the International Labour Organisation and the African Development Bank.
The government also plans to extend the RPL Programme to refugees in the Daadab and Kakuma camps, assessing and certifying around 6,000 individuals with funding from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Catherine Gikonyo, Principal of Mathenge Technical Training Institute, expressed pride in hosting the first RPL graduation ceremony, noting its support for the government’s agenda to strengthen TVETs as a driver of industrialization and job creation. She encouraged the graduates to act as ambassadors for the programme.
Alfred Gakuru, Central Region Affordable Housing Coordinator, stressed the importance of formal recognition for workers in the Affordable Housing Programme, estimating that nearly two-thirds lacked formal credentials. The partnership with TVET institutions aims to enhance their employability.
Peter Maina, a recipient of a certificate in General Agriculture, shared his optimism about future employment opportunities, highlighting the programme’s impact on individuals who have gained skills informally.
