Nairobi : Kenya’s Ministry of Education will strengthen partnership with multilateral agencies and industry to revamp vocational training and address skills gap in the country, an official said on Tuesday.
Kevit Desai, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Vocational and Technical Training, said the government will harness capital and expertise from other non-state actors to help upgrade quality of learning in mid-level colleges that produce the bulk of artisans.
“The government is committed to implementing the national agenda on Technical and vocational training (TVET) that guarantees gainful employment to the youth,” Desai remarked.
“We are keen to embrace the engagement, collaborations and linkages with the industry so as to attain quality and relevant competencies and skills required for the 21st century labor market,” he added.
The PS spoke in Nairobi during the launch of UNESCO supported phase two of Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR 2) project whose goal is to revitalize technical and vocational training in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Madagascar.
Since 2011, UNESCO has been implementing this project in both southern and eastern African region to help rebrand technical and vocational training institutions and make them attractive to the youth.
Desai said implementation of Kenyan chapter of BEAR 2 that covers 2017 to 2021 will improve quality of learning at technical and vocational training centers and endear them to youth and employers.
“We should all support government’s efforts to rebrand vocational training institutes and make them a preferred destination for career growth,” said Desai.
Multilateral institutions will rally behind Kenya’s efforts to modernize vocational training institutions that are key to achieving President Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda.
Ann Therese Ndong, the Director of UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, said institutional reforms combined with adequate funding is key to improving the quality of learning at vocational training centers.
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