Break the cycle of EXCLUSION

Recognition, Validation and

A strategy for inclusion
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JULY 2005
CITY SOLIDARITY
validate competencies
Certification of Competences
A new instrument for the country aimed at overcoming one of the main causes of p
overty and exclusion in our times - Lower Qualification of the Portuguese
Text by Ana Cameira *
The
Santa Casa da Misericordia de Lisboa (SCML) has been operating since January 200
4, a Centre of Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competencies (RVCC).
The work in Largo Trindade Coelho in Lisbon and the Village of Santa Isabel in
Albarraque, this center is intended for adults over 18 years, not having a minim
um school leaving age, can apply for recognition and validation of knowledge and
skills acquired in the most various contexts throughout life and may result in
obtaining an approval on school equivalency level of 4, 6 or 9 years (1st, 2nd o
r 3rd cycle) of Basic Education. This Centre is part of the national system of R
VCC, which consists of installing a network of RVCC Centres, already established
by a total of 87 centers. The implementation of this system, the responsibility
of the Directorate General for Vocational Training, answers the need to recogni
ze, validate and certify conhecimentos/com-
CITY SOLIDARITY
JULY 2005
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Break the cycle of EXCLUSION
The technical team of the Center for the RVCC SCML with the top eight candidates
in the jury validation certificates held on July 9th, 2004
skills developed through life and to promote an attitude that values learning. P
ortugal presents educational levels of its workforce very low. However, accordin
g to the National Action Plan for Inclusion (2001), about 62% of the workforce w
ith an education level lower than the current compulsory school (9th grade or th
ird cycle of Basic Education) is a subcertificação situation. The knowledge and
skills developed in diverse contexts of life, not conver-
has in obtaining diplomas. We are faced then with a population subcertificada in
the sense that their actual knowledge have a match to one grade level higher th
an they have. The main objectives of the activity of the RVCC Centre SCML are: •
Provide educational qualifications to the workforce (internal and external to t
he SCML) which has no minimum education of nine years; • Identify the skills acq
uired throughout life, such same population;
• Develop appropriate information, advice and assistance aimed at the recognitio
n and certification of those skills; • Support the target population in the cons
truction of future projects; • Contribute to the promotion of an active populati
on hitherto socially discredited. In 2004 the Center for the RVCC SCML registere
d a demand of 564 people. On its own initiative sought their services a total of
105 employees of LMS, 20 ex-trainees of the village of Santa Isabel (ASI) (foll
owing the mobilization carried out with its Vocational Training Centre and 157 o
thers. Conveyed by other services there was: • A total of 154 persons, identifie
d by the Directorate of Social Welfare Local SCML • 10, by the Guidance Services
, Training and Professional Insertion (OFIP) of SCML, • 105, by Center Training
Schools Association of the Municipality of Amadora; • 13 from other departments
/ entities. formalize their registration at the Centre 479 people, with 54.5% of
the category referred to above, followed by the Staff of SCML, weighing 21,9%.
In all subcategories of the public is occurring a female predominance (Figure 1)
. Of the 479 enrolled in 2004, most (32%) is aged between
Graph 1. Total demand and registered in 2004 by gender and public Search HM HM H
Subscribers
Candidates in a session with the balance of skills trainer Communication Languag
e and Citizenship and Employability
66
57 23,209,275
9107 82 164 11 105 20
66
33 23 9 195 261 60 82 93
200 300
HM M
0
11 105
400
20
500 600
100
Other
ASL / OFIP
SCML Staff
Ex-Trainees ASI
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JULY 2005
CITY SOLIDARITY
validate competencies
Marie-Christine Josso 'we can not think in the future if there is a critical ref
lection on what was the past and not think too about all the resources we have a
ccumulated gradually during our past life, also including the projects that we m
ade and that is potential for the future "
26 to 35 years, followed by the age group 36 to 45 years old, with a weight of 2
8%.€In the age group 46-55 are about 20% of total subscribers. The age groups of
individuals under the age of 25 years and older than 56 cover respectively 14%
and 6% of total subscribers. The distribution of subscribers in 2004 by age grou
p shows some differences in an analysis by gender, revealing that men are "young
er" than women (aged below 35 years are about 66% of men and only about 38% of w
omen). In an analysis by type of public note is also some differences, both amon
g the total of subscribers by type public, or between men and women of the same
class of people. Thus it appears that ex-trainees are "younger", only 0.5% aged
over 26 years and the Staff of the SCML "less young" where about 54% age is less
than 46. Most subscribers from the Social Welfare Local (ASL) and OFIP are aged
between 26 and 35 years (with a weight of 43%), and the next tier (subscribers
aged between 36 and 45 years) which assumes greater weight in the Other category
(36%). Regarding the gender distribution of age there is some homogeneity in Ex
-Trainees of ASI and all ASL / OFIP. With regard to the SCML Staff and Other not
es that men are younger than women (Figure 2). Regarding academic qualifications
for entry to most (61%) has entered the 2nd cycle of basic education (6th grade
) was not observed significant differences between men and women. In an analysis
by type of public it appears that all the former trainees have the 2nd cycle co
mplete (type of audience with a higher educational level of entry), followed by
the Other 67% of members with the 6th grade. Those enrolled in ASL / OFIP and Em
ployees of the SCML show a similar distribution, with about 49% of people with t
he 2nd cycle of basic education (Figure 3). Analyzing the situation in relation
to employment of applicants it appears that most, 61%, is employed by Others, fo
llowed by long-term unemployed, with a weight of about 20% of total subscribers.
There are no large gender differences. Analysis per type of audience there is s
ome similarity in the distribution
Chart 2. Subscribers by type of audience, genre
age group and
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Figure 3. Subscribers by type of audience, gender and educational
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
= <25
26-35
36-45
46-55
> = 56
ss the river I will be an AS CM L io n S-fo rm nc Fu Ex
L / AS
IP OF
s tro Or
1st cycle
To ta l
2nd cycle
<1 cycle
CITY SOLIDARITY
JULY 2005
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Break the cycle of EXCLUSION
Candidates with professional RVCC preparing posters for display in panel session
Chart 4. Subscribers per
audiences, gender and position with regard to employment
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Work your own account other work RLD (> 12 months) not DLD (<12 months) Looking
for the 1st job Other
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
H HM M
the ios ar na L SI on S CM m A i nc r-fo Fu Ex
L AS
/
IP OF
s tro Or
To ta l
of applicants against the job situation by between Ex-Trainees and Others, with
a predominance of workers on behalf of others. The category ASL / OFIP stands ou
t with about 65% of long-term unemployed (Chart 4). Started in the year, the RVC
C a total of 144 people most of them female. Most Employee SCML is started (41%)
followed by Other (33%). Among the remainder are about 15% of people who came t
o the Centre via referral by other services of the LMS, including the Social Ser
vices Local and about 11% of people had been graduates of the Vocational Trainin
g Centre of the village of Santa Isabel. 11 sessions were held Jury Validation a
nd Certification and was awarded 42 Personal Skills Key Wallets still in the yea
r 2004, of which 37 cul-
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JULY 2005
CITY SOLIDARITY
validate competencies
Chart 5. Subscribers who started and completed the RVCC by gender and type of pu
blic process initiated proceedings concluded HM HM
6 th grade January 9 th grade Validated January 6 th grade 9th grade 6th grade 9
th grade Validated 1
Staff Ex-Trainees ASL / OFIP Other MEN
Chart 6. Completed by age, position with regard to employment, qualifications on
entry and exit, and type of public
> 25 years 26-35 years 36 to 45 years 46-55 years> 56 years working his own Labo
ur account other RLD (> 12 months) not DLD (<12 months) Other <1st cycle 1st cyc
le 2nd cycle 1st cycle 2nd cycle 3rd cycle
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
49 95 144
17 3 20 4 37
WOMEN MEN WOMEN
mined in a license at the 3rd cycle of basic education (9th grade - B3) and four
th in the issuance of certificate at the 2nd cycle of basic education (6th grade
- B2). There was also a person partially validated at the 6th grade (V). Adults
validated / certified about 55% are women and men 45% (Chart 5).
In 2004 40 people received validation / certification in school level immediatel
y after they had, and two people received certification at the level of 9 years,
having to match only one cycle
Comparing the educational input to the level of certification achieved, 40 peopl
e received validation / certification in school level immediately after they had
, and two people received certification at the level of 9 years, having only the
start of a cycle. There is also an employee partially validated at the 6th grad
e was not recorded, so an increasing level of education (Chart 6). In a review o
f "completion rate" of the process by type of audience (the ratio between the ad
ults who started and those who completed the RVCC in 2004 by type of audience) t
here is a completion rate of 35% for Others 33% for Ex-Trainees of CFP-ASI, 20%
for the SCML Staff and 14% for adults referred by the Directorates of ASL and OF
IP. Nevertheless, the RVCC process have an average duration of 50 hours, however
, an individualized process. Thus, the highest rate of completion for Others and
 Ex-trainees is related to the fact that most of these adults have lower educati
onal needs (pre and complementary to the RVCC) in addition to presenting more au
tonomy and motivation. As for Staff and adults referred by the Directorates of A
SL and OFIP the lowest completion rate was due to higher neces-
Notwithstanding the RVCC have an average duration of 50 hours, however, an indiv
idualized
CITY SOLIDARITY
JULY 2005
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Break the cycle of EXCLUSION
Although the certification / validation constitutes the culmination of the proce
ss, the intervention of the Centre, the methodology adopted, allows the individu
al the opportunity to redefine a life path that promotes your professional and p
ersonal autonomy
versities training. There is still, as adults referred by the services of ASL /
OFIP require a greater number of sessions and more individualized support. Altho
ugh the certification / validation constitutes the culmination of the process, t
he intervention of the Centre, the methodology adopted, allows the individual th
e opportunity to redefine a life path that promotes your professional and person
al autonomy. The very passage by the Center for RVCC, the adoption of an individ
ualized intervention based on the life history of the individual, is certainly a
n instrument of social inclusion. Participation in the process of recognition, v
alidation and certification promotes recovery and growth of individuals. When co
nfronted with your life path, while the individual self become aware of the know
ledge acquired throughout life, promoting thus the (re) establishment of a new l
ife path. Much of the public demand that the Centre, particularly as regards the
public referred by the Social Services Local, do not have the idea that certain
experiences are potentially rich in terms of skills and knowledge. Consider, mo
stly nothing of its past is important, which puts the outset an obstacle to a fu
ture project into perspective. Marie-Christine Josso "can not think in the futur
e if there is a critical reflection on what has been the past and not think too
about all the resources we have accumulated gradually during our past life, also
including the projects that we made and that is potential for the future. " A s
tudy on the Impact of Recognition and Certification of Competences Acquired Life
long notes that the main purpose of the RVCC a concern, particularly, in the per
sonal dimension is eminently subjective: building self-esteem and self-worth, re
construction or even setting your project personally and professionally. The con
solidation of these personal variables contribute indirectly to employability an
d to socio-professional integration of adults. According to this study, the proc
ess of RVCC€although not directly targeted for this purpose, has promoted an app
roach to the labor market by the unemployed and inactive. In the survey to adult
s there is already certified: 29.2% of adults who were unemployed at the beginni
ng of the RVCC were employed six months after certification, 15.4% of the initia
lly inactive now considered to be unemployed six months After certification, ind
ividuals who remained unemployed (between the beginning of the process and six m
onths after certification) started to be more motivated to find work.
Joaquim Castelo and his poster presented at meeting of jury
A Study of Impact of Recognition and Certification of Competences Acquired Lifel
ong notes that the main effects of the RVCC concern, particularly, in the person
al dimension is eminently subjective: building self-esteem and self-recovery, re
construction or same definition of their personal and professional project
8
JULY 2005
CITY SOLIDARITY
validate competencies
Session jury validation in the Auditorium of the Village of Santa Isabel, Santa
Casa da Misericordia de Lisboa
29.2% of adults who were unemployed at the beginning of the RVCC were employed s
ix months after certification
The Center for RVCC as integrated response under the action of SCML on audiences
which provides support to improve their living conditions has, therefore, a cri
tically important role in preventing the phenomenon of marginalization in a popu
lation little schooling that, while not being an active participation in society
, is barred from taking their full citizenship. Acting with this group in a logi
cal preventive, through the recognition, validation and certification of skills,
may enable individuals to promote their employability, increasing the ability t
o obtain and retain employment and avoid situations of prolonged unemployment.
* Degree in Economics. Postgraduate in Political Development of Human Resources.
Coordinator of the Center for the Recognition, Validation and Certification of
SCML.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CIDEC (2004), The Impact of Recognition and Certification Acquired for Lifelong
Learning, Lisbon, DGFV Josse, Marie-Christine, "The life stories open up new pos
sibilities for people," in Learning throughout life, No. 2, October 2004, Associ
ation "The Right to Learn," pp 16-23. MTS (2001), National Action Plan for Socia
l Inclusion 2001-2003, Lisboa, MTS.
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