The government, through the Ministry of Education, is reviewing the current education funding model to ensure that no deserving learner is denied the opportunity to pursue academic goals due to financial constraints, Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr. Julius Migos Ogamba has said.
Speaking in Meru County during the 6th graduation ceremony of the Meru National Polytechnic, where more than 3,000 students graduated with various honours, the CS said the new approach aims to expand access to education financing for learners across the country.
He noted that the revamped TVET Funding Model now enables trainees to benefit from affordable financing options through scholarships, loans and grants, enhancing equity and inclusion.
“We want every learner, regardless of their background, to have a fair shot at finishing school. No student should be locked out of education because of lack of fees,” said Dr. Ogamba.
He disclosed that the government has already released Sh1.2 billion and plans to add an additional Sh800 million to support student loans and fee capitation.
Ogamba praised the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) model, saying it continues to produce graduates equipped with practical, industry-aligned skills that match current labour market demands.
“The CBET model has helped address specific occupational standards and ensured that our students acquire the right skills that make them employable immediately after training,” he added.
The CS underscored the central role of TVET institutions in advancing Kenya’s development agenda under Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the Kenya Kwanza Plan, noting that national prosperity depends on the productivity and skills of the youth.
He added that the government is investing heavily in modern infrastructure, digital equipment and upgraded training facilities across National Polytechnics to align learning with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Dr. Ogamba called on development partners, private sector actors and county governments to collaborate with the national government in strengthening TVET institutions, saying that effective skills development requires strong partnerships that link training with employment, innovation and enterprise growth.
Meru National Polytechnic Chief Principal Dr. Mutembei Kigige highlighted the institution’s achievements, noting that close collaboration with local industries has strengthened training outcomes and improved job readiness.
He said partnerships with enterprises have enabled employers to contribute directly to shaping training programmes through dual training models, producing work-ready graduates.
Dr. Kigige further stated that the institution fully implemented the CBET model across all departments this year, with forty-seven approved curricula.
He announced that the polytechnic had received authority to issue its own certificates as a qualifications-awarding institution, marking a historic milestone.
He added that the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme continues to open opportunities for skilled Kenyans, with 106 RPL candidates graduating during the ceremony. “Their success is proof that experience and dedication deserve recognition, regardless of where or how learning occurred,” he said.
He also outlined the institution’s digital transformation journey, noting the launch of the E-Learning Centre, the ODeL Studio, nine digital learning boards, a modern multimedia studio now home to MNP TV, expanded virtual reality training, smart classrooms and a scaled-up digital driving school.
These investments, he said, ensure that trainees remain globally competitive in today’s digital world.
By Dickson Mwiti
