The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Launches Special Recognition of Prior Learning Programme
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has recently drawn attention in the news for their implementation of a Special Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme, conducted in collaboration with the Department of Panchayati Raj (DoPR). The new programme, part of the Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) initiative, has been launched in Varanasi and Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Unpacking the RPL Programme
The RPL programme was designed with the aim to decentralize and improve local governance, thereby optimizing the planning and execution of skill development programmes. Administered by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the programme acknowledges the significance of learning acquired outside formal education.
Moreover, it provides government certification for an individual’s set of skills. Other benefits include exposure to digital and financial literacy concepts and complimentary accidental insurance coverage for three years. No fee is charged for participation, and every successfully certified candidate receives Rs. 500.
Roles and Responsibilities in the RPL Programme
To ensure the RPL programme’s success, MSDE aids State Skill Development Missions (SSDMs) and District Skill Committees (DSCs) in selecting and onboarding the Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). The joint effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and MSDE monitors the programme’s progress, with support from the Directorate of Panchayati Raj, UP, and the SSDM, UP.
This initiative forms part of a larger programme titled ‘Skill Development Planning at the level of Gram Panchayat.’ This aims to introduce RPL systematically across various gram panchayats throughout India.
Significance of the RPL Programme
The integration of gram panchayats is a vital aspect of the success of District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) and is projected to significantly boost the Skill India Mission. The RPL will standardize the competencies of the pre-existing workforce and enhance the candidates’ confidence, respect, and recognition.
In addition, the programme supports the formalization of informal youth learning, promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities and reducing knowledge-based inequalities. It also links them with work opportunities deriving from the Gram panchayat’s development initiatives. Implementing skill development planning at the gram panchayat level contributes towards decentralization.
About SANKALP
The SANKALP initiative, under which the RPL programme falls, is an outcome-oriented project by MSDE. It prioritizes decentralized planning and quality enhancement in collaboration with the World Bank as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. It carries out the mandate of the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) and aids in developing rational and practical state skill development plans, contributing to a viable national plan for skill development.
Objectives of SANKALP
Among its primary objectives, SANKALP aims to create convergence among all skill training activities, whether led by State or funded by the Indian Government. The programme intends to improve skill development programmes’ quality through building quality trainer pools, developing model curriculums and content, and standardizing assessment and certification.
SANKALP also envisages establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation system for the skill training programmes. Furthermore, it aspires to provide skill training opportunities for the disadvantaged sections whilst creating industry-led, demand-driven skill training capacity.