The State Department for Post-Training and Skills Development has called for enhanced collaboration between national and county governments in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to ensure that TVET institutions offer relevant, high-quality training that meets local and national market driven needs and standards.
Director of Technical Education at the State Department Dr. Meshack Opwora explained that effective collaboration between the national and county governments was vital for successful regulatory efforts in the TVET sector, as it ensured alignment with national development goals and regional needs.
He cited key areas of cooperation between the two levels of government including curriculum development, trainer accreditation, quality assurance processes, and infrastructure development.
Dr. Opwora further said the collaboration was critical in developing and enforcing standards, regulations, and guidelines for TVET institutions, programmes and trainers, which he noted included standards in accreditation, registration, and licensing of providers.
“This collaboration should focus on standard development, quality assurance, access, equity, and relevance in training,” he added
While noting that Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) was the primary body for regulating and coordinating TVET including accreditation of institutions, programmes, and trainers, Dr. Opwora said county governments played a vital role in supporting and monitoring the quality of training within their jurisdictions.
The Director made the remarks at the Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP) at the close of a two-day stakeholders’ engagement and dissemination forum on the 2023/24 Quality Audit Report compiled by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA).
The event focused on presenting findings from the audit covering 416 institutions across 30 counties, including national polytechnics, public and private TVETs, and county vocational training centres. It aimed at assessing performance and foster dialogue on improving the quality of technical training in Kenya.
Dr. Opwora pointed out that the national government, through the Ministry of Education’s Directorate of Vocational Education and Training and the TVET Authority, set national policies and standards for TVET while County governments were responsible for implementing the policies at the local level, ensuring that institutions adhere to standards and guidelines.
This, he said, included ensuring that institutions have adequate resources, qualified trainers, and effective teaching and learning methodologies.
The collaboration also involves regular consultations and joint technical committees to ensure alignment and effective implementation of policies, he added.
The Director reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening TVET institutions to support the ongoing transition to the new competency-based curriculum (CBC).
The focus on TVET is seen as a crucial step in addressing youth unemployment and equipping learners with relevant, marketable skills. The government’s emphasis on technical education marks a shift towards competency-based learning, reinforcing its role in national development under Vision 2030.
The forum brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the State Department for TVETs, TVETA Board, County Governments, Ministry of Education, National Administration, and heads of institutions.
The Director emphasized that TVET reforms were essential in ensuring that graduates acquired the practical skills needed in Kenya’s evolving job market.
Other reforms included aligning TVET curricula with emerging sectors like digital technology, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, increased funding and stronger industry partnerships (dual training model) which combines classroom learning with practical industry experience.
“Our partnerships with industry players ensure that what students learn in TVET institutions is directly applicable in the job market. We want to produce graduates who are job-ready and innovative,” Dr Opwora stated
He affirmed that national and county governments should work together to ensure that TVET opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of location or socio-economic background and that joint efforts are needed to monitor the performance of TVET institutions, assess the quality of training, and evaluate the impact of TVET programs on the job market.
Nakuru County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education, ICT, e-Government and Public Communication Ms Zipporah Wambui reaffirmed the devolved unit’s commitment to vocational training as a driver of economic transformation.
She cited ongoing infrastructure upgrades, policy reforms, and support initiatives as part of the County’s strategy to enhance access, equity, and quality, citing partnerships between Nakuru Vocational Training Colleges and national institutions to boost youth skills.
Ms. Wambui stated that Governor Susan Kihika’s administration had committed to making significant investments in tertiary institutions to accommodate the increasing number of students and ensure access to higher education.
Consequently, the county had embarked on the transformation of various vocational training centres with a view to aligning them to current market trends, she said.
She pledged that they would continue focusing on strengthening the ties between vocational training and industry needs, as a way of addressing the critical issue of youth employability in Kenya.
Ms. Wambui emphasized the growing need for students to pursue technical education in light of the rising number of high school graduates saying that the country was facing a shortage of skilled technicians, urging students to explore technical fields that are critical to shaping Kenya’s economic future.
She indicated that the County Government was championing a dual Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme- an educational approach that combines theoretical classroom instruction with practical workplace training and called to attention Kenya’s growing demand for digital and technical skills, encouraging young people to retrain and stay aligned with the industry needs.
“We shall continue supporting our VTCs through the Sh30, 000 capitation fund per trainee, infrastructure improvement, equipping and staffing. Together with our partners, we are building a workforce that will propel Nakuru County to an economic giant in future,” she stated.
Nakuru County has 24 youth polytechnics spread across the 11 sub counties.
By Esther Mwangi and Mary ochieng
