Collaborative Efforts between Kisumu Polytechnic and Partners to Facilitate Accreditation for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Programs
Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) Managing Director, Wycliffe Achiaga, has announced a collaboration with Kisumu National Polytechnic (KNP) to pursue certification for accrediting Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programs. Achiaga expressed the institution’s role in identifying individuals suitable for certification through the RPL assessment. The partnership aims to address various initiatives, including the development of cotton farming in the region, fingerling production, and combatting invasive water hyacinth through the installation of a harvester.
Commending the upcoming launch of the textile hub at Kisumu National Polytechnic, Achiaga highlighted its potential to enhance cotton farming in the region. The Chief Principal of the polytechnic, Catherine Kelonye, revealed that the textile hub, funded by the World Bank through the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), is 85% complete and is expected to be commissioned within the year. The facility will feature a showroom and student hostels, establishing connections with other factories in the area.
Kelonye emphasized the institution’s commitment to developing the regional textile industry by providing high-quality training, problem-solving, research, innovation, and technology transfer. She announced the rollout of eight textile technology programs in May, with a curriculum designed to meet industry needs.
The Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Principal Secretary, Dr. Esther Muoria, disclosed that trainers for the programs have been appointed, heralding a transformation in the country’s textiles industry. Kisumu National Polytechnic stands out as the only institution in the country with a learning industry, offering a dual training model combining classroom instruction with hands-on industry experience.
Muoria underscored the institution’s unique position in crafting curriculum and occupational standards under textile technology. Kisumu National Polytechnic has established partnerships with Rivatex, Spin-Knit, Thika Mills, and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to foster valuable linkages.
Encouraging parents to enroll their children in the program, Muoria emphasized the myriad opportunities the training program would unlock, including prospects in China and India. The innovative approach taken by Kisumu National Polytechnic ensures that learners receive practical training, preparing them effectively for the job market.
