• KNQA is currently involved in the development and implementation of the Africa Continental Qualifications Framework and IGAD Qualifications Framework
• The two-day forum supported by the African Union in collaboration with the European Training Foundation aims to implement the African Continental Qualifications Framework as a continental policy instrument.
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Kenya is among 19 countries participating in the second Africa Continental Qualifications Framework training forum in Luanda, Angola.
The country is represented by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority.
The two-day forum supported by the African Union in collaboration with the European Training Foundation, aims to implement the African Continental Qualifications Framework as a continental policy instrument.
KNQA’s director of technical services Stanley Maindi and deputy director ICT Vincent Koech are among the more than 55 participants from 19 countries at the forum.
Angolan Minister for Public Administration, Labour and Social Security Dr Maria dos Santos opened the forum.
KNQA is currently involved in the development and implementation of the Africa Continental Qualifications Framework and IGAD Qualifications Framework.
This allows for transparency of qualifications and mutual trust between qualifications frameworks for lifelong learning in Africa.
Maindi said the Kenya National Qualifications Framework focus is on national needs and standards, while ACQF is focused on the creation of a cohesive framework for qualifications across the continent.
This enhanced regional collaboration and recognition.
“KNQF and ACQF focus is to enhance educational and training standards through rigorous quality assurance mechanisms both national and regional standards. This ensures consistency and recognition of qualifications,” Maindi said.
The forum which ended on Friday, further seeks to contribute to transparency, comparability and recognition of qualifications, collaboration between National Qualifications Frameworks and promotion of lifelong learning in Africa.
Kenya is one of the five countries participating in the pilot referencing exercise.
The ACQF –II Project forums, aim at supporting the referencing of National Qualifications Frameworks to African Continental Qualifications Framework.
It also aims to develop and operationalise innovative tools such as the qualifications and credentials platforms, the RPL campaign, and skills data focus (labour market intelligence tools) through training, dialogue and peer-to-peer sharing forums.
To appreciate the role Kenya is playing in the implementation of ACQF, the country has once again been given the right to host the 3rd ACQF forum scheduled for September 30 to September 4, 2024.
This comes one year after the country hosted another ACQF workshop in 2023.
The focus of the Nairobi forum will be training on recognition of prior learning practitioners.
The four-day training workshop will be both face-to-face and virtual.
ACQF is a policy initiative of the Africa Union to achieve continental integration through education and training, free movement of persons and free trade.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to improved mobility, and lifelong learning opportunities for African youth.
This is through enhanced comparability and transparency of qualification, recognition of skills and diplomas, improved mutual trust and information sharing between qualification frameworks and systems on the continent.
Maindi said the journey towards better coordination and harmony in the education and training system began in earnest when the KNQF Act came into force and when KNQA was established to implement the framework.
“The authority continues to provide advisory, enhance capacity building and sensitisation of stakeholders to ensure they all understand their role in the implementation of the national qualification’s framework,” Maindi said.