The government has postponed the NYOTA Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) graduation that was scheduled for September 8, with beneficiaries advised to wait for a new date before making travel arrangements.
The notice instructed successful beneficiaries not to travel based on the previously communicated programme, saying further details would be issued once arrangements for the rescheduled graduation are confirmed.
Government Issues Postponement Notice
The postponement affects beneficiaries who had been preparing to attend the NYOTA RPL graduation scheduled for September 8. The government did not give a specific reason for moving the event and did not provide an alternative date in the notice.
Beneficiaries have consequently been advised to remain patient and rely on official communication for information about the rescheduled ceremony.
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The announcement comes days after preparations for a major government event centred on the formal certification of young people who have acquired practical skills outside conventional education.
President William Ruto was expected to preside over the launch of several initiatives targeting informal-sector workers, including the RPL programme, the Fundi Locator platform and the NSSF Haba Haba savings programme at the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) Athi River Centre.
NYOTA RPL Programme Targets Skilled Youth
The RPL component is implemented through NITA under the NYOTA programme and is designed to recognise skills acquired through work experience, apprenticeships, informal training and self-employment.
RPL allows individuals to have skills they already possess assessed and formally certified. The process involves identifying competencies, documenting evidence of skills and undertaking an assessment before successful candidates receive certification.
According to NYOTA programme, the RPL pathway is intended to help young people demonstrate their competencies to employers while improving access to employment, entrepreneurship and further learning opportunities.
The government has set a target of assessing and certifying 20,000 young people through the RPL component. NYOTA says the programme is aimed particularly at vulnerable youth who possess technical skills but lack formal certification.
The initiative covers a range of occupations and seeks to bridge the gap between skills gained in the informal economy and formal recognition through nationally recognised certification.
Thousands Had Been Assessed for Certification
The postponement follows a nationwide process through which NYOTA and its implementing partners identified and assessed young people seeking certification of their existing skills.
The project conducted awareness and screening activities across Kenya, with applicants required to demonstrate their competencies and provide evidence of their experience before proceeding to assessment and certification. More than 63,000 applicants were targeted for assessment, with 20,000 young artisans expected to receive certification.
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A total of 3,727 successful candidates had been assessed by NITA and were lined up for certification during the planned government event. The cohort included informal-sector workers whose skills had been acquired through practical experience rather than traditional academic training.
The RPL certificates are intended to provide beneficiaries with formal evidence of their competencies, potentially allowing them to compete for employment opportunities that require recognised qualifications.
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