Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is planning to draw a policy in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that would empower government agencies and institutions to formally recognise individuals’ existing skills and competencies through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
the state’s higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, directed the Maharashtra State Academic and Research Council, the state’s academic advisory body, to draw a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to safeguard their academic interests While exploring a resolution for over 130 students who were allegedly duped by Bandra’s Dr Baliram Hiray College of Architecture. In 2023, the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), which is responsible for setting standards, developing comprehensive regulations and improving the vocational education, training, and skilling ecosystem, had developed the guidelines for the RPL.
The Union skill ministry, at that time, referred to RPL as a “mechanism through which drop-outs from the formal system will be reintegrated by aligning their practical experience with the relevant level of National Skill Qualification Framework”. These students completed their education from the college, but their degrees are not endorsed by any recognised university. Taking serious note of the alleged fraud, Patil directed the administrative bodies to register criminal cases against such institutions. The minister also asked students and parents to not fall prey to such misleading claims and verify the institutions’ authenticity on the websites of competent authorities such as the directorate of higher education or technical education. The guidelines are yet to be adopted by the state.
in this particular case, it will help students to get some formal recognition for the number of years they spent in studying at the unrecognised college, said a government official While the original idea of RPL was also to recognise skills and boost employability. The state policy, while adopting the NCVET guidelines, will set up minimum standards and procedures for assessment of skills and facilitate integration with the formal education system. This assessment, as recommended, should be done by a panel, which would also include an industry expert. The guidelines will also lay down the minimum standards required for recognition awarding bodies and assessment agencies.