Qualification Framework in East Africa

RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN EAST AFRICA

1.0 Qualification Framework

A qualifications framework is a formalized structure that classify qualifications according to a set of criteria for learning such as level of learning outcome, complexity of the content or purpose of qualification. A national, regional or continental Qualifications Framework shows levels of qualifications as defined by set criteria and allows for greater ability to develop, assess and improve quality education. There also provide a mechanism by which countries do compare and recognize each other qualifications and integrate returning citizens and skilled immigrants into the labour force. They also benefit learners by opening access to up-skilling opportunities, reduce cost of education as learners do not need to repeat content they had previously covered when there up-skills.

The East African countries which includes Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan have almost similar education systems because of their shared history or regional agreements. This means the countries have almost similar qualification frameworks though some are not documented. It is imporrtant for a learner within the East African region to understand the region Qualification Framework since the region is currently implementing the EAC common market protocol that allow for free movement of labour.

2.0 Kenya and Uganda Qualification Framework

2.1 Kenya Qualification Framework

Kenyan Qualification Framework integrate three sub frameworks and has ten (10) levels of qualifications with Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) or Basic Skills Certificate being the lowest and Doctorate degree being the highest. The first is academic sub frameworks which includes levels 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The vocational Training or TVET sub framework has levels all the ten (10) levels. The skills or apprenticeship Sub framework has levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. In Kenya a learner can progress horizontally and vertically through training and assessment to attain highest possible level of qualification if willing and available. The figure below shows the Kenyan qualification framework.

2.2 Uganda Vocational Qualification Framework

Unlike Kenya which has established a Qualification Framework covering basic, vocational (TVET) and university education Ugandan has established vocational qualification framework which has five levels of qualifications shown in table 1.

Table 1: Uganda Vocational Qualification Framework

In addition Ugandan has an academic qualifications framework that entails seven (7) years of primary school, four (4) years of lower secondary, two (2) years of advanced secondary school and three (3) years of university education.

Since Uganda does not have a Qualification Framework covering the whole spectrum of its education system, qualification equivalences between the two countries is best can determined by interrogating the purpose of qualification and duration (credit hours). The table below compare equivalent qualifications between the two countries.

In education and training learners willing to up-skills have to follow a specified pathway prescribe by a country qualification framework. I is common to find learners who are misguided by unscrupulous trainers join programs they don’t qualify and end up with qualifications that cannot be recognized in their country or county they immigrate to. The progression pathways for Kenya and Uganda are shown below;

3.0 Equivalences of Qualifications

As seen from the figure 2 and 3 above the two countries have different progression pathways. Protocol dictate that a member country uphold the practice in the country. There are several parallel that can be drawn for the two progression pathways;

i. To join university in Kenya a learner need to have attained Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). This is equated to Uganda Advance Certificate of Education (UACE). Therefore a holder of Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) cannot progress to university in Kenya. By protocol Uganda should admit a holder of KCSE to university but this is not always the case. Such a learner is sometimes required to seat for UACE.

ii. A holder of UCE from Uganda cannot join a diploma program in Uganda. He/she has to start from Certificate III and up-skills upward. By protocol the same holder cannot join a diploma program in Kenya. On the other hand a holder of KCSE qualify for admission to diploma programme in Kenya and by protocol the same should be admitted to a diploma program in Uganda.

iii. The recognition of university level education in the two countries is almost seamless owing to the fact that university have a wider autonomy in the development of programs and there are numerous exchange programs among the universities

The disparities in the recognition of each other qualification can be ironed out by a Mutual Recognition Agreement on Qualifications (MRAQ) between countries. It is our hope that the East African countries will expedite the writing of the MRAQ to enable the citizen benefit from the EAC common market protocol.

In our next article we shall discuss the Kenya and Tanzania Qualification Framework.