Informal sector workers and youth in Kajiado North have been encouraged to obtain formal certification of their skills through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme. This programme aims to improve their access to employment opportunities locally and abroad. The initiative was highlighted during an RPL sensitization seminar at Ngong Technical and Vocational Training Centre (TVC).
Ngong Ward MCA Mbiriri Mwaura emphasized that the programme would enable people who acquired skills through apprenticeships and on-the-job training to have their competencies formally assessed and certified. This certification would enhance opportunities for employment and self-employment, including under the government’s labour migration programme. Mwaura also urged leaders, businesspeople, and well-wishers in Kajiado North to support informal workers to undergo the assessment and certification process.
Mwaura announced that he would sponsor the first 50 people from the area to register for the programme and would support another 50 as enrollment progresses. Ngong TVC Registrar Mary Njogu called for increased support for the programme, saying formal certification would enable informal workers to access opportunities that require recognized qualifications. This would open up new avenues for skilled workers to formalize their expertise.
The benefits of the programme were highlighted by informal workers who attended the seminar. Marianne Wambui, a cosmetologist from Matasia Town, noted that certification would give her documentary proof of her skills when seeking employment. Collins Oduor, a welder and fabricator in Ngong Town, said obtaining a certificate would improve his chances of securing better-paying jobs, including opportunities abroad.
Ngong TVC RPL Coordinator Jackson Koiga explained that the programme assesses skills acquired through informal learning and gives successful candidates formal recognition. The center offers RPL assessment and certification in various areas, including construction, carpentry, tailoring, catering, and child protection. This wide range of certification options caters to diverse skill sets.
About 100 youth attended the sensitization seminar and were issued with registration forms to enroll by Friday. Those who register will undergo assessment by Ngong TVC in collaboration with the Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC). Self-sponsored candidates will pay Sh3,000 for the certification process, making it accessible to those willing to invest in their skills.
The RPL programme is designed to recognize competencies acquired through informal learning and work experience, enabling skilled workers without formal qualifications to obtain nationally recognized certification. By providing this certification, the programme aims to bridge the gap between informal skills and formal employment opportunities, ultimately enhancing the socio-economic prospects of informal workers in Kajiado North.
Key points
- Informal sector workers and youth in Kajiado North are being urged to obtain formal certification of their skills through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme.
- The programme aims to improve access to employment opportunities locally and abroad for skilled workers without formal qualifications.
- The certification process is set to begin with about 100 youth registering for the programme after attending a sensitization seminar at Ngong TVC.
