An awareness programme conducted by the Samoa Qualifications Authority (S.Q.A.) has emphasised promoting quality assurance of non-formal education and training in Samoa.

Conducted at the T.A.T.T.E. building yesterday, the programme was based on revised guidelines for Recognition of Non Formal Learning (R.N.F.L.), with the aim of informing stakeholders of the revised R.N.F.L. guidelines and to develop understanding on the revisions.  

Participants were representatives from formal and non-formal education and learning providers, government ministries, corporations and professional bodies and potential providers of non-formal learning. 

S.Q.A. Acting Chief Executive Officer, Maposua Mose Asani, said the R.N.F.L. involves both the perspective of organisations and individual providers. 

“The R.N.F.L. process is designed to help enhance the quality delivery of non-formal learning training programmes.  In addition, the process enables non-formal learner achievements to be recognised and included on the Record of Achievement (R.O.A.),” said Maposua. 

R.N.F.L. is one of the Quality Assurance processes being developed to align with one of S.Q.A.’s mandated functions “to promote quality assurance of Non formal education and training programmes in Samoa”.

The R.N.F.L. process was developed in 2009 with the first review conducted in 2012.  The second review of the Guidelines in 2017 took into account the recent developments that have happened not only in education as well as in the quality assurance work in general.  

One of these developments, which are now considered in the Revised Guidelines for R.N.F.L., is the inclusion of national competency standards (N.C.S.) in programmes.  Formal and non-formal learning providers can now integrate the developed N.C.S.’s in their programmes of learning and/or learning activities.  

The rationale in the recognition of learning is to raise capacity, capability, expectations and motivation essential for building and growing a productive and proactive society.