By N, KNA
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing reforms in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, assuring learners and parents that the introduction of modular training programmes is improving skills outcomes without increasing the cost of education in public institutions.
Speaking during a press briefing at the State Department headquarters at Jogoo House , the State Department for TVET Principal Secretary, Esther Muoria, said the reforms are aimed at equipping young Kenyans with practical, employable skills in shorter cycles, while keeping education affordable and accessible.
“We want to make it very clear that TVET training has been modularised to produce practical skills, and it is designed to make learners ready for the job market as quickly as possible,” Dr Muoria said, defending the government’s strategy and dismissing suggestions that modularisation has increased financial burdens on students.
She clarified that under the modular system, tuition fees have been capped at Sh35,000 per module, countering assertions that the reforms have raised the cost of training.
According to the PS, fees was determined after consultations with college principals and other stakeholders to balance affordability with practical training needs.
“The fee was capped at Sh35,000 following a stakeholders’ meeting, mainly involving the principals, who are the people on the ground implementing TVET training,” she said, affirming that the costs reflect efficiency in training materials and access to practical learning resources.
Dr Muoria emphasised that TVET remains one of the most affordable pathways for skill development, noting that government policy provides for scholarships, HELB loans, and bursaries to ensure that students can remain in the institutions and complete their training.
She explained that modularisation allows students to complete short, job-oriented modules in as little as three months, enabling them to either enter the workforce quickly or progress to higher qualifications as they wish.
This approach, she said, was informed by ongoing curriculum reforms and industry engagement to ensure that trainees have marketable competencies upon exit.
Under the new Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) system, officially rolled out in May 2025, TVET institutions deliver practical, skills-focused learning that aligns with labour market demands.
The CBET model has been part of broader reforms supported by policy frameworks, including the TVET Act and industry standards development.
“The journey of CBET has been deliberate and transformative, adopted to ensure the development of human capital that is responsive to the labour market,” Dr Muoria said, underscoring the shift from traditional, theory-heavy instruction to hands-on practical training.
Dr Muoria also addressed concerns about dropout rates, noting that challenges in payment of fees by students and parents, particularly in economically constrained households, may contribute to some learners discontinuing training.
“Dropouts in the TVET space are not unusual,” she said, explaining that students may struggle to meet their portion of fee commitments, especially in the face of broader financial pressures on households.
The PS emphasised that learners are encouraged to apply for scholarships and financial assistance as soon as they enrol.
She maintained that the government is committed to ensuring that support mechanisms, including loans and bursaries, are accessible to eligible students to help them complete their training.
The briefing took place against a backdrop of rising interest in TVET, as alternative pathways to university education become more prominent.
More than 700,000 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates who did not qualify for direct university admission in 2025 are expected to seek placement in TVET institutions, reflecting growing demand for practical and skills-based learning.
Enrollment in public TVET institutions has been increasing steadily, with government data showing a rise to about 700,000 trainees and continuing to trend upward as confidence in the sector grows.
Dr Muoria said the growth underscores the appeal of modular and competency-based training as learners seek cost-effective, employable skills.
Dr Muoria said the ministry held extensive discussions with principals, industry representatives, and other education stakeholders before implementing the changes.
“There were stakeholder engagements, and we have the records and minutes of these meetings to demonstrate the consultative nature of the process,” she said, stressing that the government sought to be inclusive in shaping the reforms.
She also dismissed claims that the modular system had led to delayed government capitation or additional financial pressures on households, noting that capitation allocations and support to institutions remain intact as part of broader sector funding strategies.
Dr Muoria said the modularisation is part of a wider strategy to modernise the TVET sector, which the government sees as central to addressing youth unemployment and closing skills gaps in critical sectors of the economy.
“We need a lot of people in this country with actual skills to be able to do things. This is why we are moving from just teaching theory to practical training,” she said, emphasising the role of TVET in national development.
The PS urged stakeholders to view modularisation as a long-term shift toward skills that are immediately relevant to the job market, and reiterated the government’s pledge to ensure that financial support and opportunities for learners are expanded as reforms progress.
“We are committed to expanding access to technical skills so that every Kenyan has the opportunity to contribute to national development,” Dr Muoria said, reaffirming the irreversible nature of the reforms and their alignment with the government’s vision for economic transformation.
