Post: TVET Institutions to Integrate Green Skills for Sustainable Development

Mombasa: The government has announced plans to embed environmental sustainability into technical and vocational training curricula in a move aimed at equipping young people with skills for a greener economy. The initiative is designed to link training with employment opportunities while addressing urgent environmental challenges.According to Kenya News Agency, speaking in Mombasa during a week-long training for trainers organised in partnership with EDUKANS Kenya, Principal Secretary for TVET Dr Esther Muoria said the initiative will align education with the country's environmental and employment priorities. "We are working to green our institutions and curricula so that learners acquire skills that promote sustainable development. Kenya faces challenges of waste in our waters and environment. Addressing this must start with education," Dr Muoria said.The PS noted that past efforts had only partially incorporated environmental content into TVET programmes, prompting the government to seek stronger partner ships with the private sector. The collaboration would extend across all fields, including textiles, mechanical engineering, building, and civil works, to ensure sustainability is mainstreamed in every area of training.Dr. Muoria stated that the government is also engaging universities, basic education institutions, and county governments to broaden the reach of the greening agenda. She emphasised that President William Ruto has directed education agencies to stop working in isolation and instead adopt a unified approach to skills development.Edukans Kenya Country Director Miriam Mugo said the organisation is committed to promoting education and skills development for marginalised communities while supporting a transition to a circular economy. "Textiles are among the world's top three polluting sectors after oil, gas, and plastics. This is why we began the Green Future Project, where we are training 2,300 young people with green skills, particularly in the textile industry," Mugo said.She noted that Ed ukans had trained 13 master trainers who will, in turn, support 200 trainers to reach thousands of young people across TVET institutions. The programme also targets 100 small and medium enterprises SMEs in the textile sector, equipping them with knowledge to repurpose waste materials and reduce pollution. "Our goal is not only to green the curriculum but also to ensure that the industry is prepared to absorb graduates with sustainable skills," she said.