The modularized Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum has been cited as the most transformative reform in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, significantly overhauling how technical education is delivered in Kenya.
Education stakeholders who spoke during a TVET sensitization forum in Murang’a County observed that the CBET curriculum has shifted training from theory-based learning to a skills-oriented, learner-centred approach that equips trainees with practical competencies aligned to labour market needs.
Kandara Technical and Vocational College (TVC) Principal Mary Kamau said the modular system has opened up opportunities for many young people who previously dropped out of education due to financial constraints or rigid academic structures.
“CBET has changed the face of technical education. Learners can now train in modules, earn certification at every level and join the job market even before completing their full courses. This flexibility has increased enrollment and improved completion rates,” Kamau said.
She added that the government has supported the transition by equipping institutions with modern training equipment, ensuring that graduates acquire hands-on skills relevant to industry demands.
“The TVET sector has received a lot of reforms as the government is pro-TVET and has ensured that apart from equipping the TVETS, we have an institution in every constituency to improve access”
“With the modularized curriculum right from the artisan level to diplomas, the student gets equipped with practical skills making them employable at every level. Also at every level they can get into self-employment” she said
Ms Kamau also urged the young people who did not manage to get to university or proceed with their studies to join a TVET and shape their future because the world has quickly moved into a skills oriented era.
Students at Kandara TVC also welcomed the curriculum, saying it has given them confidence and practical exposure. One trainee noted that unlike the old system, CBET allows learners to progress at their own pace while gaining employable skills.
“We are assessed based on what we can actually do, not just what we write in exams. I already have a certificate that allows me to work as I continue with my studies,” said Brian Ndungu, a student at the institution.
Muthithi Assistant County Commissioner Eddy Jonathan Wandera noted that the government is actively working with TVET institutions to promote technical education at the grassroots, particularly among youths facing unemployment.
“White-collar jobs are no longer sufficient for our growing population. Technical skills provide an alternative pathway to self-reliance, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment,” he said.
He added that the administration is intensifying community sensitization to change negative perceptions around technical training, noting that skilled artisans are critical to national development.
Wandera further noted that the government is fully committed to confront the menace of drug and substance abuse which extends beyond individual tragedy but poses a significant threat to the fabric of the society and stability of the nation as a whole.
“As an administration, we will strive to preserve the present and protect the future by fighting these vices as with them, the future of our nation hangs in the balance”
On her part, nominated MCA Diana Muthoni called on parents and guardians to embrace TVET as a viable and dignified education pathway for their children.
“Not every child will go to university, but every child deserves a skill. CBET ensures our youths are equipped to earn a living and contribute meaningfully to the economy,” she said.
Nationally, there are more than 240 TVET institutions through which the government aims to reduce youth unemployment and build a skilled workforce capable of driving industrial growth and sustainable development across the country.
By Florence Kinyua
