Govt to award ‘unlearned’ skills in new initiative – PS Mworia

PS Tivet Dr Esther Mworia (center) flanked by Kisii National Polytechnic Principal John AKola during a visit to the institution

The government Tuesday rejected accusations that it was battering abroad local skills in the ongoing public facilitated labour mobility.

Principal Secretary at the State Department Technical Vocational Education and Training, Dr Esther Mworia, however underscored the commitment by the state to improve service delivery in all of its technical institutes.

“This notion that we are exporting labour should stop, we are only encouraging labour mobility. The same way our youth move from the rural to urban centres to look for jobs is the same way our people are encouraged to look for employment out there, nothing should stop them from doing that as long it is within the law, “the PS told journalists in Kisii.

Dr Mworia had visited Kisii Polytechnic Tuesday to inaugrate the training of assessors and verifiers of Prior Learning.

Prior Learning is an academic parlance referring to what a learner already knows before acquiring new information.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), prior learning assessment (PLA), or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a process used to evaluate skills and knowledge acquired outside the classroom for the purpose of recognizing competence against a given set of standards, competencies, or learning outcomes.

Dr Mworia said the country is endowed wit thousands of citizens who have acquired skills without going through any academic setting.

More other assessors cum verifiers would be trained in other institutions in the coming months, she stated.

“It is not about proficiency in English but a demonstration of skill that the asssors would be looking for before a qualification is preferred on them. We have already certified the standards to be used,” added the PS.

On staff shortage, the Ps said the state is also addressing staff shortages in local Tivet centres with aim of improving service delivery.

Already, she said, efforts are being made towards addressing the issue.

“Though slow at the moment, we are going to ensure there is sufficient deployment of enough teaching staff to all technical institutes. As a government we are already alive to what is needed to spur progress in these colleges,” stated Dr Mworia.

Kisii Polytechnic Principal John Akola lauded the initiative terming it a milestone in tivet training in the country.

The program is being funded by African Development Bank (ADB).