VALIDATION OF NONFORMAL AND INFORMAL LEARNING (VNFIL) In THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA (RM)
Commencing in the year 2018, Moldova has made relatively good progress towards fulfilling the strategic objectives on VNFIL. In 2019 the national regulatory framework on VNFIL was approved, eight VET institutions were granted the title of Validation Centre and were tasked by the Ministry of Education and Research (MoER) to pilot the implementation of VNFIL.
Education Code, approved in 2014, provides for the assessment of competences acquired in non-formal and informal education pathways. To this end, MoER approved a series of acts implementing Article 123 of the Education Code, including Regulation on VNFIL and Practical Guide, approved in 2020.
VNFIL Regulation establishes the normative framework for the functioning of the national VNFIL, through identification, documentation, assessment and certification of competences acquired in non-formal and informal learning contexts and delegates VET institutions the right to provide VNFIL services.
VNFIL procedures are to be implemented only for the learning outcomes in qualifications registered on the National Qualification Framework (NQF), and exclusively by VET institutions which are accredited by ANACEC (National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research) and have training programmes approved by the same legal body.
The legal framework foresees VNFIL to be undertaken in VET for qualifications on NQF levels 3, 4 and 5. Currently, in demand for validation are competences in qualifications at level 3 of NQF in fields like construction, catering, services and textiles. VNFIL applicants have the option to validate either some or the entire set of competences within a qualification. VNFIL assessment process is similar to that in formal VET. VNFIL culminates with the award of Qualification Certificate, equal to that obtained via formal VET, and a certificate descriptive supplement.
MoER is the central body responsible for development of legal framework and its enforcement in the entire education sector, including VNFIL. The Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family is dealing inter alia with the VNFIL, being in charge of issues related to National Employment Agency, Sector Committees, occupational standards, Classifier of Occupations, nomenclatures, and policies on labour market and migration.
The cost of certification is borne by candidates. There is no public funding available for VNFIL apart from that for registered unemployed. VNFIL fees are set by VET institutions according to the legislation and respecting the cost-effectiveness ratio. For certain at-risk groups (unemployed, disabled persons) the fee may be reduced or reimbursed through special funding programmes.
Overall, the VNFIL is underpinned by the legal framework and the infrastructure is in place. However, there is a need for further work on development of normative acts on VNFIL in higher education, development and introduction of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, building capacities of VNFIL providers to meet all the expectations placed upon them, actions to improve communication, collaboration and co-ordination of all relevant stakeholders, awareness raising campaigns, and establishment of sustainable VNFIL funding.