Mwea Technical and Vocational College (TVC) has intensified efforts to align technical training with labour market demands after hosting a comprehensive Dual Training sensitization and stakeholder engagement forum aimed at strengthening industry linkages and promoting competency-based education.
The forum convened industry partners, government representatives, and technical experts to deliberate on the implementation of the Dual Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Dual TVET) model that integrates 50 percent classroom-based theoretical instruction with 50 percent structured on-the-job training within industry settings.
The session was facilitated by Dual TVET expert Mr. Duncan Ndung’u alongside private sector specialist Madam Phillippa Mary, who underscored the urgency of bridging the gap between institutional training and workplace realities. They emphasized that sustainable skills development must be anchored on active collaboration between training institutions and employers to ensure graduates acquire competencies that match evolving industry standards.
Participants observed that the central challenge facing many graduates today is not necessarily a shortage of employment opportunities, but rather a mismatch between acquired skills and industry expectations.
“Employers increasingly demand hands-on experience, technical precision, and workplace adaptability; qualities that cannot be fully developed through classroom instruction alone.” Said Ndungu.
The Dual TVET framework addresses this gap by embedding trainees within real production environments where they gain practical exposure under professional supervision. Through industry mentorship and competency-based assessment, students graduate with verified skills and work-readiness, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the job market.
Established in September 2019, Mwea TVC has experienced steady growth and currently serves a student population of more than 2,500 learners enrolled in diverse technical programmes. The institution’s strategic proximity to the expansive Mwea Irrigation Scheme presents a unique advantage in implementing Dual TVET.
The irrigation scheme, managed by the National Irrigation Authority, anchors a robust agricultural value chain that spans mechanized farming, harvesting, processing, milling, packaging, and distribution. This ecosystem offers practical training opportunities across multiple disciplines including agribusiness, mechanical technology, electrical installation, food processing, and entrepreneurship.
By formalizing partnerships with stakeholders operating within this value chain, the college aims to create structured industrial attachment placements that allow students to acquire practical competencies directly aligned with regional economic activities.
The engagement forum brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education and several key institutional and private sector partners. Among them were Mwea GK Prisons, National Irrigation Authority, Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Co-operative Society, Mwea Irrigation Agricultural Development Centre (MIAD), as well as Agitech, Agriprice, and Mazao na Afya.
They reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative training models that integrate students into real production systems while supporting curriculum refinement through continuous feedback.
The Dual TVET model was highlighted as a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative pathway to certification, typically requiring between six and eighteen months depending on the programme. This structured approach not only accelerates entry into the workforce but also reduces the financial burden on learners while maintaining high standards of skill acquisition.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
