Mombasa: Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has affirmed the government's commitment to increasing investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to equip millions of Kenyan youths with essential skills and knowledge. By the end of 2025, the Ministry of Education aims to boost enrolment in TVETs from the current 500,000 learners to two million.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the transformation of the old Mama Ngina Secondary School into a TVET college, Ogamba emphasized the government's recognition of the transformative role TVET plays in tackling socio-economic challenges such as youth unemployment, skills gaps, and poverty reduction. He stated, "We reaffirm our pledge to ensure that no Kenyan is left behind when it comes to accessing quality technical training."
Ogamba highlighted the government's focus on access, equity, and quality in TVET education, which will be achieved through the construction of new institutions and the expansion of existing ones. This initiative will ensure that every county has a modern TVET institution, bringing training opportunities closer to the people. The government will also continue to offer funding options to support students from all socio-economic backgrounds.
To align TVET programs with industry needs, the government is implementing curriculum reforms and forging industry partnerships, focusing on emerging sectors such as digital technologies, renewable energy, and manufacturing. Efforts are also underway to promote TVET as a viable career path and change the narrative around technical education.
To support uninterrupted learning, the government recently released Sh1.56 billion for upkeep and tuition loans to thousands of TVET and university students. In the Financial Year 2024/2025 alone, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has disbursed Sh. 32.7 billion for student loans.
Ogamba assured learners in TVET institutions and universities of full government support in completing their studies. He urged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (KCSE) graduates to apply for TVET opportunities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service (KUCCPS). The CS directed KUCCPS to conduct another application process for eligible TVET students by June 2025 for a second intake by September 2025.
In addition, KUCCPS has been instructed to open its portal for the KCSE 2024 candidates to apply for university placements for the 2025/2026 Academic Year, encouraging the 246,391 students who achieved a mean grade of C+ and above in 2024 to apply once the portal is opened.
Technical University of Mombasa Vice Chancellor Prof. Laila Abubakar emphasized the importance of synergy between TVET institutions and industries to enhance practical learning, stating, 'TVET is hands-on; there should be a symbiotic relationship between training institutions and industries.'