First group of RPL assessors complete training |24 April 2018

A group of participants from professional centres in Seychelles who took part in a one-week Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Assessor training  organised by the Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA) received their certificates last Friday.

They were the first group to follow such training held at the SQA headquarters at the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Mont Fleuri. The first batch followed the training from April 16 to 20 while another group began yesterday and will end Friday.

The training will allow the RPL assessors to engage fully in all the processes of RPL assessment.  The aim is to have a pool of well trained RPL assessors who will be able to train other RPL assessors in their respective institutions.  

The RPL assessor training is facilitated by a consultant from the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA). 

In the context of Seychelles, RPL is particularly important for the many employees with years of experience in their particular field of work who find themselves without formal qualification.  Indeed, RPL can bring along many benefits for these persons including promotion at work, salary enhancement and access to higher education and training. 

“Therefore In line with its legal mandate and for the benefit of the workforce of Seychelles, the SQA remains engaged and committed to ensure that RPL is fully implemented in our country,” says Joan Amade from SQA.

RPL, which is being implemented in many countries across the world including South Africa, Botswana and Mauritius, is a process whereby prior learning acquired formally, non-formally and informally is assessed against standards or learning outcomes and is given recognition.

Activities towards the recognition of competencies started in 2008 with a pilot project involving environmental health officers.  In 2010, there were two other pilot projects involving dental assistants from the health sector and wood workers in the carpentry and joinery sector. 

Following the revision of the RPL Policy and Guidelines documents in 2014/2015, the SQA engaged itself in a last pilot study jointly with the five professional centres.  Among the RPL candidates who participated in the last pilot project, five have been awarded full qualification in their respective fields. 

The SQA is now aiming at having a pool of well-trained RPL assessors who will in turn be able to share their knowledge to other assessors in their institutions.