More than 70 church leaders, preachers and church workers from the North Rift region have benefited from an ongoing awareness and sensitisation program on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
The program is aimed at recognising individuals who did not acquire formal education but have worked in church ministry for many years.
Speaking during the awareness forum held at Shiloh Training College in Eldoret City, the CEO of the Association of Pentecostal Vocational Training Institutions of Kenya, Dr Namusasi Chunungo, said the initiative seeks to assess and award church ministers with government-recognised certificates under the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework.
“We are here at Shiloh Training College to create awareness of the national standards developed by the industry and CDACC, which are now being implemented in formal training centres in line with the national policy on prior learning. Our target is church leaders who have been in the workplace for a long time,” said Dr Chunungo.
North Rift church leaders to benefit from Recognition of Prior Learning
He noted that many church leaders are practising without formal training but have skills and competencies gained through years of service in the ministry. The aim of the program, he added, is to document and assess their competencies against occupational standards and award them with recognised national qualifications.
The Principal of Shiloh College and Presiding Bishop of Halleluyah Churches in Kenya, Bishop Dr Zablon Malema, said many people assume that RPL is only meant for technical and vocational courses, yet there are programs for pastors, bishops, Bible teachers, missionaries and other Christian workers under the program.
“We shall be assessing them through a government legal framework so that they get Recognition of Prior Learning. Many are doing great work, but they did not get an opportunity to get formal education. We want to assist them to bring the knowledge they have into a competency-based arrangement,” said Bishop Malema.
