The government is strengthening international partnerships and industry linkages to position Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions as centres of practical skills, innovation, production and global employment.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for TVET, Dr Esther Thaara Muoria, said international partnerships were critical in aligning training with industry requirements, international standards and emerging labour-market opportunities.
Speaking during a dinner at Kabete National Polytechnic to mark the completion of final assessments for the first cohort under the Signet Institute of Australia programme, Dr Muoria said Kenya must prepare its young people for both local and international job opportunities.
“We are not training our trainees just for local industries. We want them internationalised,” she asserted.
The assessment brought together 133 trainees and an estimated 33 trainers from Kabete National Polytechnic, Nairobi National Polytechnic, Kisii National Polytechnic, Eldoret National Polytechnic and Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind.
The trainees are pursuing a Diploma in Community Service and Individual Support, specialising in ageing and disability support, with the wider programme covering engineering, automotive, construction, health, community services and leadership.
The assessments were moderated by a Signet Institute of Australia master trainer, providing an international benchmark for the competencies acquired by the trainees.
Dr. Muoria said the assessment had demonstrated the capacity of Kenyan TVET institutions to deliver competency-based training aligned with international standards.
“After three weeks of intensive assessment, I am proud to hear from the international assessors that the trainees were rated at 90 per cent in their areas of skills development. That means it is excellent,” said Dr. Muoria.
She said the outcome provided an important external affirmation of the quality of skills being developed in Kenya and would build confidence among trainees and trainers to participate in international skills competitions and pursue employment opportunities abroad.
“As Kenya advances its ambition to become a global skills hub, the focus must remain on building a TVET system that is industry-responsive, internationally benchmarked and capable of preparing young people to compete for opportunities both at home and across the world,” she said.
Dr. Muoria said international exposure would enable Kenyan workers to acquire experience, technology and skills that could support national development and industrialisation.
She stressed that Kenya’s industrial transformation must be driven by its own manpower and correct skills.
The PS said the Signet partnership demonstrated how international agreements could translate into practical training, assessment and exposure to global standards.
“The partnership demonstrates the value of global collaboration in aligning TVET with industry needs, international standards and emerging labour-market opportunities,” she said.
Dr. Muoria said the government was also strengthening collaboration between TVET institutions, industry and universities to bridge training and production.
She cited opportunities for TVET institutions to support local manufacturing of vehicle parts and components, including those for electric vehicles, as well as partnerships in automotive, agriculture and apparel manufacturing.
“Through collaboration, TVETs have an opportunity to deepen industry linkages, promote technology transfer, enhance practical skills and support market-driven production,” she said.
Signet Institute Operations Manager Mohit said the programme had enabled Australian trainers to work alongside Kenyan trainers and witness the trainees demonstrate their competencies.
“I have witnessed Australian trainers working alongside Kenyan trainers, seeing the assessments taking place here and most importantly, seeing the trainees demonstrate their skills,” said Mohit.
He said the programme brought together Australian training standards, Australian master trainers, Kenyan trainers, the strength of Kenya’s TVET institutions and the trainees at the centre of the exercise.
“Tonight, we are bringing together Australian training standards, the strength and experience of Kenya’s TVET institutions, Australian master trainers, Kenyan trainers and, most importantly, Kenyan trainees,” he said.
Mohit said the successful assessment showed that international partnerships could create practical opportunities for skills development, benchmarking and global employability.
“We are not discussing whether it can be done, because we are doing it,” he said.
Australian assessors commended the trainees and trainers, with one indicating that about 90 per cent of the trainees had demonstrated the required competencies.
Kabete National Polytechnic Principal Dr Patrick Muchemi said the assessment marked another step towards positioning Kenyan TVET graduates for the global skills market.
He said institutions should leverage their equipment, expertise and partnerships to strengthen production, innovation and enterprise.
The first cohort is expected to graduate in November, with the programme providing pathways to employment opportunities in Australia.
The Signet partnership forms part of the government’s broader TVET transformation agenda to strengthen competency-based training, industry linkages, international benchmarking and practical learning.
By Joan Ogolla-PCO
