Zanzibar celebrates 1st RPL graduation ceremony

Zanzibar’s Vocational Training Authority (VTA) in collaboration with the ILO SKILL-UP programme celebrated the first graduation and certification ceremony for Zanzibar’s first Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme on 29 April 2021.

Recognition of prior learning is a process of identifying, assessing and certifying people who lack paper qualifications despite having the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to do the work. Mostly these are people who acquired their learning through informal or/and non-formal processes.

The event, attended by guest of honour Zanzibar’s was Urban and Western Regional Commissioner, Hon. Idrissa Kitwana Mustafa, was the first of two graduation and certification ceremonies slated for 2021.

The 64 candidates were awarded VTA certificates in four priority occupations selected through consultative meetings. These occupations include; welding, auto mechanics, tailoring and masonry.

According to VTA RPL coordinator, Mr, Khamis Mkubwa the programme has a pass rate of 85 per cent with welding as the most popular occupations with a 100 percent pass rate.

Mr Mkubwa added that VTA intends to attract even more candidates in the next phase by targeting more women candidates:

“We plan to include more occupations such as; food preparation, painting, fine arts and decoration as well as electrical installation, which we think will attract larger numbers of candidates particularly women.”

Zanzibar, like many parts of Africa has a large section of its labour force training and working in the informal sector, with a majority lacking formal qualifications. As a result, the Vocational Training Authority (VTA is working closely with the ILO to develop an RPL system on the island to formally recognize and award qualifications to thousands of its workers.

The certified graduates now have increased prospects for inclusion in the labour market.

“The candidates now have the certification to take on bigger jobs. We encourage candidates to form and register craft associations on top of running their own business. Such associations will allow members to access various government support mechanisms as well as bank loans and capacity building opportunities,” says Mr Mkubwa.

ILO’s technical assistance in establishing RPL system in Zanzibar is made under the SKILL-UP programme with generous funding from the Government of Norway through the ILO –Norway Partnership for skills development. This activity contributes to the objectives of the project aimed at supporting expansion of RPL systems to new locations and cover additional occupations