The Vanuatu Qualifications Authority (VQA) conducted a consultation meeting on a draft Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policies document on Tuesday 30 March 2021 at VQA conference room.
The consultation was conducted via blended mode where Port Vila participants were consulted through face-to-face with representatives from registered Post School Education and Training (PSET) providers such as APTC, School of Education (formally known as Vanuatu Institute of Teacher Education – VITE), Korvan community Health School, Vanuatu college of Nursing Education (VCNE), Pacific Vocational Training Centre (PVTC), USP, Rhema Bible Training College and Onesua Presbyterian Technical School.

The Tafea Skills Centre hosted the meeting through video conferencing with representatives from registered PSET providers in Tanna including Lume Rural Training Centre (RTC), Foundation of the Betterment of Society and Green Hill city Trade School.
The RPL policies is a review of the 2013 RPL policy was first approved in 2013.

In 2020, VQA, recruited for the first time, a Skills and Qualifications Recognition Officer (SQRO) with the responsibilities tasked to coordinate the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Recognition of Foreign Qualification to ensure all qualifications are nationally recognized.

The SQR officer, Ms Lesbeth Jimmy, worked in collaboration with a foreign consultation on the review of the RPL Policy. An early stage consultation has been conducted with some stakeholders before a 1st and 2nd consultation with VQA staff. The feedbacks received from that first and second consultation resulted to the third draft, which was communicated during the consultation meeting conducted on Tuesday.

The purpose of this meeting was to capture stakeholder’s views and perceptions in policies statements, and to clarify possible impacts of implementing the RPL Policies in Vanuatu.

Ms Jimmy explained that this meeting was very important as the inputs from PSET providers will be indispensable as they will also play a role in implementing that policy once approved.

One of the PSET provider said during that meeting that the industry also needed to have their thoughts and inputs in that policy.
Recognition of Prior Learning refers to knowledge and skills that is attained through work and life experience which can be recognized, so that you can be issued a Vanuatu Qualifications Framework (VQF) qualification.

The RPL can provide national recognition of skills and experience you use in your job, fast tracking to recognized qualifications, time saving in undertaking formal study, and increased career opportunities.

The policies covers three types of RPL which includes RPL for Admission or RPL (A), , RPL for Credit Transfer or RPL (C), and the RPL for awards of VQF qualifications or RPL (Q).

The CEO of VQA, Mr David Lambukly, explained that this policy will help many people who are already working with many years of experience and without qualification in that specific area.