The Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Migos Ogamba has noted that Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a key pillar to the Government’s vision 2030 actualization.
The CS who spoke at the Kenya School of TVET during the release of TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET CDACC) July/August 2024 Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) assessment results, said that TVET plays a great role in spurring industrialization in Kenya.
“As the Government gears up to achieve vision 2030, TVET plays a great role in spurring industrialization in Kenya which is a clear step to achieving vision 2030,” the CS said.
CS Ogamba noted that with successive implementation of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) in TVET institutions, the model is on a good trajectory to equip Kenyan youth with hands-on skills in order to partake in the industrialization of Kenya in order to achieve vision 2030.
The CS further pointed out that the successful implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) spearheaded by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) is a key testament to fruitful implementation of CBET in Kenya.
The CS said that this initiative has brought many Kenyans with skills but without certification into the ecosystem of skills qualification turning out to be an excellent tool for inclusivity and opportunity to Kenyans.
CS Ogamba at same time added that the Government has implemented several key initiatives designed to strengthen the TVET sector, widen access to TVET as well as to improve the quality of programs in TVET institutions.
To ensure that TVET programs remain relevant to the evolving technological changes in the market, the CS said that the Government has continued to partner with various industries in curriculum development, assessment, industrial practice and continuous curriculum reviewing.
“These partnerships are instrumental in bridging the gap between education and employment at the same time helping our educational institutions to solve the historical skills mismatch that industries have for a long time been complaining of,” said the CS.
He said that the Government through TVET CDACC has developed over 400 competency-based curricula and all of them have been developed in close consultation with industry experts to ensure that every skill taught in TVET institutions is directly applicable to the real-world job roles.
In July/August 2024 CBET assessment results across 252 TVET assessment centers in the country, a total of 59,575 candidates were assessed in 226 qualifications across all levels with 2,929 units of competency.
“Going forward, the government is committed to ensuring that CBET continues to evolve, remain relevant in order to drive the economic transformation of Kenya,” noted the education CS.
He said that as CBET gains momentum, the Government has established rigorous quality assurance mechanisms to maintain consistency and high standards in TVET training programs.
In line with Kenya’s commitment to sustainable development, the Education Cabinet Secretary echoed that TVET has integrated green skills and environmental awareness into its curricula in order to prepare the youth for future jobs and for a future that requires responsible and sustainable approaches across all industries.
The CS lauded international collaboration noting that collaboration with development partners such as; GIZ, International Labour Organization (ILO), CICAN through Mastercard Foundation, World Bank among other partners has strengthened Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) implementation in Kenya.
He said the partnership has given Kenya an opportunity to learn from global best practices thus positioning Kenya as a leader in Competency-Based Education and Training in Africa at the same time expanding opportunities for Kenya’s TVET trainees on the international stage.
By Justus Anzaya
