The 1st East African Conference on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) took place from December 11th to 12th, 2024, at the Nican Resort Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. This important conference brought together key stakeholders, including senior government officials from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Institute of Adult Education, and the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) from Tanzania, Uganda, and other regions. The conference aimed to explore effective strategies for implementing RPL across the region. It emphasized the critical role of RPL in acknowledging skills acquired outside conventional education systems, promoting lifelong learning, and incorporating these skills into national qualifications frameworks (NQFs).

This hybrid conference offered both in-person and online participation, allowing diverse stakeholders to exchange insights on the transformative impact of RPL in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania and Uganda. It aimed to raise awareness about the current status of RPL and NQFs while establishing actionable steps for improving RPL systems in both countries.

Opening remarks by Caesar Kyebakola, DVV International Country Director (Uganda), Frauke Heinze, Regional Director for East Africa, and Dr. Fredrick Salukele, Director of TVET for Tanzania, underscored RPL’s potential to unlock learning opportunities and bridge educational gaps. Hon. Peace Regis Mutuuzo, Minister of State for Gender and Culture, officially opened the conference, emphasizing RPL's role in education and workforce development.

Keynote Presentations and Case Studies

Throughout the two days, the conference featured a blend of in-person and virtual keynote presentations that set the stage for deep, insightful discussions. Katie Jones from the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning delivered a global perspective on RPL and NQFs, highlighting the critical role these systems play in promoting inclusive education and workforce integration. This was followed by an in-depth analysis of the RPL status in Tanzania and Uganda by Dr. Shirley Lloyd from South Africa. Her presentation identified existing gaps and recommended actionable steps for strengthening RPL systems. Real-world insights were shared through case studies from South Africa (Dr. Shirley Lloyd) and Austria (Dr. Phillip Assinger), showcasing success stories, challenges faced, and practical pathways for integrating RPL into national systems.

Engaging Discussions

The World Café session facilitated dynamic discussions on key RPL themes, including stakeholder roles, methods for accrediting prior learning and operationalizing RPL systems. Participants contributed insights on challenges and proposed solutions, which were captured during a gallery walk, enriching the development of next steps. Participants shared experiences, identified challenges, and proposed solutions during table discussions. The key outputs were documented and revisited during a gallery walk, ensuring a dynamic exchange of ideas that informed the development of concrete next steps.

The hybrid nature of the conference ensured participation from a broader audience, including online contributors. This enriched the discussions by enabling inputs from international experts and practitioners unable to attend in person.

Roadmaps for Uganda and Tanzania

A major outcome of the conference was the presentation of country-specific roadmaps for Uganda and Tanzania. These roadmaps outline practical steps to institutionalize RPL systems, tailored to each country’s needs and priorities.

Tanzania’s Roadmap

• Develop National RPL Guidelines, including an assessment framework.
• Establish a National RPL Quality Assurance Framework.
• Review the Teacher Continuous Professional Development (TCPD) program to integrate RPL practitioners.
• Formulate a comprehensive RPL Financing Strategy.
• Integrate RPL into the new National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS).
• Enhance awareness and advocacy through targeted mechanisms.

Uganda’s Roadmap

• Orient the multi-sectoral steering committee on RPL with inputs from service providers.
• Finalize the Post-Literacy Program and share it with the steering committee.
• Familiarize stakeholders with the Situation Analysis Report for RPL.
• Draft the RPL Framework within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
• Conduct broad stakeholder consultations on the draft framework.
• Finalize and disseminate the RPL Draft Report.

The conference underscored the critical role of RPL in addressing barriers to formal education and employment opportunities, particularly for adult learners and those with non-formal learning experiences. Key reflections included:

• The need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to ensure effective RPL systems.
• Challenges such as financing, capacity development, and policy gaps remain common across East Africa.
• RPL must be seen as a pillar of lifelong learning, offering pathways for skill recognition and workforce integration.

Closing and Way Forward

The conference concluded with a joint call for action which comprises 5 key areas:

• Improve coordination, awareness raising, and financing for RPL systems.
• Conduct collaborative research on RPL and NQFs.
• Develop mechanisms, methods, and tools for RPL assessment and accreditation.
• Governments to design relevant guidelines, institutionalize RPL, and allocate sufficient resources.
• Develop and operationalize National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) with RPL as a critical component.

One of the outcomes of the conference is the commitment from stakeholders to advance RPL systems in their respective countries. High-level government representatives emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and resource mobilization to achieve these goals.

Looking ahead, the results of this conference mark a significant step towards recognizing prior learning, promoting lifelong learning, and supporting skills development in East Africa. The presented roadmaps for Tanzania and Uganda provide a clear pathway to operationalize RPL systems, with key milestones and priorities outlined for the coming months.

The success of the 1st East African Conference on RPL has set the foundation for future dialogue, implementation, and regional collaboration. Together, we can ensure that every learner’s knowledge, skills, and experiences are recognized and valued.