Nairobi: Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has reiterated the government's commitment to the growth and development of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in order to fulfil its flagship projects. Speaking during the inaugural graduation ceremony at Riragia Technical and Vocational College (TVC) in Marani Sub County on Tuesday, CS Ogamba said TVET is the bridge between knowledge and productivity that will unlock the youth's potential in Kenya to industrialise the economy.
According to Kenya News Agency, the CS emphasized that TVET is central to realizing Kenya's ambitious Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). He encouraged Kenyans to embrace TVET to acquire the skilled manpower necessary for the country's industrialisation and to achieve the status of an industrial nation. Ogamba highlighted the significance of the TVET sector in building a workforce that is skilled, adaptable, and innovative, ready to meet the demands of both current and future industries.
The CS commended Riragia TVC for its first graduation ceremony, where 203 graduates were recognized. Since its inception in 2019, Riragia TVC has grown significantly, with a current student population of 2,600 and a target enrollment of 6,000 set for Technical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs). Ogamba encouraged the institution's management to leverage collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) to market TVET programs across the county and country, aiming to increase TVET enrollment to two million by December 2025.
Ogamba also addressed the government's efforts in reforming the TVET sector to align with global trends and industry standards. In September 2023, the government implemented the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum to enhance training quality and produce an internationally competitive workforce. The CS mentioned that the CBET implementation aims to shift from traditional theory-based learning to a practical, skill-based approach, better preparing graduates for the job market.
The Education Ministry has modularised the CBET curricula into short, examinable competency units, leading to micro, part, and full qualifications achievable within three to six months. Currently, 188 programs have been modularised, with their implementation beginning in May 2025. The recent approval of the Dual Training Policy marks a significant milestone in Kenya's TVET sector, addressing the historical skills mismatch in colleges.
Ogamba also highlighted the government's efforts in implementing the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative, which aims to increase the number of certified Jua Kali artisans and MSMEs from 5,170 to 700,000 by December 31, 2025. With support from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), 1,850 Jua Kali artisans will receive RPL certification. In conclusion, the CS affirmed the government's commitment to equipping TVET institutions with state-of-the-art equipment to advance the TVET agenda.