The Nairobi Technical Training Institute (NTTI) has partnered with BSZ Schwandorf Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) College in Germany, a move that is aimed at growing NTTI into a centre of excellence in automotive mechatronics.
The partnership being spearheaded by the Kenya government through the State Department for Vocational and Technical Training and the German Development Cooperation focuses on dual training of which 50 percent of the curriculum will be undertaken at the NTTI while the other 50 percent will be in-company training within cooperating companies.
GIZ who will be providing capacity development curriculum and occupational standards for automotive mechatronics level 6 developed in 2020, learning guides and in-company training plans that will be used for training.
According to the curriculum trainees will spend one term in school and one term in the industry.
Speaking during the cementing of the partnership with the visiting delegation from BSZ Schwandorf TVET at the NTTI, State Department of Vocational and Technical Training Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Margaret Mwakima noted that economies that have done well are those that have invested in technical and vocational training of skills.
“Having drawn lessons from Germany, I believe that we as a country are on the right track towards skills development,” said Mwakima.
“The support of the German government in as far as the TVET subsector is concerned has been highly commendable and tremendous,” she said.
Mwakima lauded the German government for spearheading the dual training policy development that deals with cooperative training policy, noting that the partnership through the two governments promote Automotive Mechatronics curriculum in Kenya
“Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has been very instrumental in ensuring that the female gender is able to enroll in the TVET sector,” said Mwakima.
She reiterated that the Ministry of Education is focused on ensuring that more females enroll for the training in order to be part of the industrialization and manufacturing agenda.
The PS singled out DT-Dobie, CMC, Simba Colt Cooperation, Stantech Motors, Plateau Motors, Farmers Choice Ltd, Top Quality Motors and Capwell Industries as the companies that have partnered with the Ministry to take part in the industrial training that will equip trainees with knowledge.
In his remarks, the Principal of BSZ Schwandorf TVET College Dr. Josef Most said as a leading automotive Mechatronics training institution they are committed to ensure that they impact the right curriculum that will benefit the trainees.
This is the second time a team from Schwandorf College is visiting Kenya. During the one-week visit the delegation will finalize discussion on areas of mutual cooperation and have discussions with TVET partners including Kenya Technical Training College (KTTC).
They will also visit trainees currently being mentored by leading national and international companies in automotive sector.
The first cohort of trainees was enrolled in September 2020, with 15 trainees comprising of one female and 14 males, while the second cohort enrolled in September 2021 had 20 trainees with 4 females and 16 males. The Third cohort enrollment for September 2022 application is in progress.
By Jedida Barasa
