The government has renewed its partnership with private sector and the international community to address skills gap resulting from modern technology in the labour market.
Speakers at a three-day Technical and Vocational Education and Training Conference noted that the country has more than 845 accredited TVETs, but the courses offered are not aligned with global standards.
- •In the current budget, the government allocated Ksh 5.2 billion capitation for TVET students and Ksh 1.9 billion for the construction and equipping of Technical Training Institutions and Vocational Training Centres.
- •A total of Ksh 628.6 billion was allocated to the entire education sector to improve learning outcomes.
Through a partnership with private sector, German and Finland governments, the state has embarked on dual TVET, an initiative aimed at linking industries with training institutions to offer leaners hands on experience necessary to fit in the modern job market.
Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education Ezekiel Mochogu underscored the importance of TVETs in the future of Kenya’s labour market, emphasizing ministry’s commitment in working with the institutions, private sector and the donor community to realize hands on training.
“We are going to equip the institutions with additional 2000 trainers with better working terms necessary in boosting morale, the terms will be much better in the coming days,” he said.
“The ministry has also recruited dedicated personnel in each TVET institution to act as a linkage between the institutions and industries, this will ensure that trainees acquire practical skills besides the theory,” CS Machogu added.
Deputy German Ambassador to Kenya Alexander Fierley noted that each year one million young Kenyans enter the labor market, majority of whom lack hands-on experience to meet the evolving work environment.
“It is […] vital for companies and business membership organizations to play their role in the skill development of the country’s youth. They should collaborate closely with the TVET sector, both at the organizational level and on a broader scale,” he said.
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