The UNESCO qualifications passport is a modern universal tool to facilitate the mobility for refugees with qualifications and is envisaged to be used for migrants around the globe. It aims at increasing access for refugees and vulnerable immigrants to higher education through the recognition of prior learning and qualifications.
ZAQA, UNESCO, Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Commissioner for Refugees in Zambia held a preparatory meeting on 28th and 29th August 2019 in Lusaka, Zambia for the launch of the UNESCO qualifications passport for refugees and vulnerable migrants (UQP).
Delivering his welcoming remarks at the Pre – pilot Meeting, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Higher Education, Mr. Mabvuto Sakala welcomed the move from UNESCO to have the Republic of Zambia as the Pre- Pilot Nation and ZAQA as the implementing agency in the implementation of UNESCO Qualifications Passport for Refugees and Vulnerable Migrants (UQP).
He emphasised that the passport will contribute to enabling the migrants build on their education in the host countries if they so desire, but also enable them gain meaningful employment and thus enhance their chances of improving their livelihoods. Mr. Sakala further highlighted that the initiative will support and strengthen the global, regional and local initiatives for the inclusion of refugees into society, education systems and the labour market.
The PS implored ZAQA management and staff to take advantage of this opportunity and put the knowledge to be acquired to good use. He further stressed that ZAQA should recognise the purpose for this engagement and its ultimate goal of improving the livelihoods of refugees and vulnerable people.
Mr. Sakala further said that, the choice of Zambia attests to among other positive attributes, the competencies demonstrated by the Zambia Qualifications Authority in their area of specialisation and the cordial relations enjoyed by Zambia with its counterparts UNESCO, NOKUT and the UNHCR.
As he concluded, he thanked UNESCO and NOKUT for the gesture, and directed the ZAQA CEO to ensure that this collaboration between ZAQA, UNESCO, UNHCR and NOKUT does not end here, but translates to more positive interventions in line with ZAQA’s mandate and the Nation’s aspirations on the education platform.
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