ILO impressed with Recognition to Prior Learning artisans

Mzuzu, April 9, Mana: The International Labour Organization (ILO), says it is impressed with the work that artisans in bricklaying are doing after being assessed and getting certification for their skills through the Recognition to Prior Learning (RPL) Project.

The remarks were made on Tuesday, by the ILO National Project Coordinator for Global skills Programme, Patrick Makondetsa, in Mzuzu when he visited some of the artisans who have been assessed and certified through the RPL project.

“I am happy to say that RPL has a significant impact on the beneficiaries. We have seen how after getting certified they are given big contracts which shows that the project is good to the informal sector,” he said.

He further explained that the beneficiaries are adding value and increasing their opportunities for a wider clientele and in so doing gaining more wages that will help their families.

Makondetsa also said there are some industries that require different kind of skills and they need to support their people so that the skills being acquired on the job training has to be assessed and certified.

“Going forward we need to not only look for artisans who are doing piecework but we also need to engage industries who have artisans that are not certified to train them and ensure that they are certified. In future when we develop the sector skill council it will provide all and meet the gap that is there,” he said.

Speaking in an interview, acting Chief Trade Test Officer for Mzuzu, Jack Kachingwe, said the RPL project, is an extended assessment to external candidates who do not have classroom skills but learn the job informally.

“This project started in 2019 after abolishing the Malawi Trade Test Certification where we left out the informal sector but now we are recognizing these people and assessing them. We piloted the project in 2022 with 11 candidates in two trades of bricklaying and fabrication and welding,” said Kachingwe.

He explained that since the project started to-date they have assessed about 187 candidates adding that it is encouraging that people are coming forward. He said they have added five more trades in Tailoring, Automobile Mechanics, Food, Plumbing and Carpentry and Joinery and appealed to more people with the skills to get to their offices to be assessed and certified.

Commenting on the same, Regional Centre Manager for TEVETA in Mzuzu, Joseph Chikopa, said the beneficiaries of RPL have gained the required skills.

“We have seen how confident they are working after being assessed and certified and this is helping them to contribute effectively to the social economic development of the country,” he said.

A beneficiary of the project, Donly Mkandawire said he did his training in January 2023 and has since been certified.

“Before getting the paper I was just building houses anyhow, but now I know how to build a house right from foundation to roofing stage. I have also come to realize that people have confidence with artisans, who not only know the job but are also certified,” he said.

Recognition to prior learning process help individuals who do not have qualifications, to acquire a qualification that matches their knowledge.