Technical Education Vocational and Training

Provision of skills and competencies is critical for the development of hands-on workers and a skilled human resource base for national development. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are responsible for offering programmes that equip the graduates with quality and relevant skills and competencies to meet the needs of the labour markets.
The Constitution of Kenya provides under its 2nd schedule that upon devolution TVET institutions shall be under the responsibility of the National Government whereas the village polytechnics, craft centres and farmers training centres and by extension similar institutions that train operators in vocational trades and skills, shall be under the responsibility of respective County Governments. Arrangements are underway to decentralize the operations of the Ministry including TVET to all the 47 counties.

The Directorate of TVET (DTVET) is charged with the responsibility of coordinating national skills training. It is responsible for policy, curriculum development, registration and supervision of TVET institutions in the Country. This mandate is derived from The TVET Act 2013 which indicates the Cabinet Secretary in consultation with the other Ministries and the private sector involved in training shall (i) develop policies- and provide strategies for the development of a national training system (ii) have the overall responsibility in the provision of training and (iii) in collaboration with other Ministries and stakeholders, be responsible for promoting access, equity, quality and relevance in training.

DTVET is responsible for developing and coordinating the implementation of national skills training policy and strategy; facilitation of tertiary technical education and training (TVET); policy for technical and vocational skills instruction, curricula development and assessment; oversight of the implementation of technical and vocational training programmes, and management of middle-level tertiary institutions; namely: technical colleges, national polytechnics and technical trainers colleges; establishment of organs and institutions under the TVET Act of 2013; recruitment and appointment of boards of Governors of technical colleges and vocational centres; recruitment and appointment of councils of national polytechnics and technical trainers colleges; recruitment and appointment of TVET Authority Board, recruitment and appointment of TVET Fund Board; and appointment of TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council.

Core Programmes
1) Increasing access and equity in training
2) Enhancing quality and relevance of training programmes
3) Implementing the TVET Act to regulate and monitor training standards in TVET
4) ICT Integration in TVET provision and pedagogy
5) Extension and outreach programmes
6) Collaboration and linkages with industry and other relevant institutions
7) Establishment of TVET Centres of Excellence
8) Upgrading of National Polytechnics to award degrees and to open up transition from diploma level to the degree level
9) Upgrading of technical institutes to National Polytechnics to create clear TVET Pathways for upward mobility of trainees

10) Promotion of structured applied research and innovation culture through Annual TVET Fairs, Robot Contests and exhibitions for
11) Establishment of industrial processing and manufacturing business incubators and intellectual property rights portfolios to empower institutions for pursuing autonomy status

Vision

The vision for the TVET sub-sector is to provide skilled and   globally competitive employable human resource

Mission

To provide, promote and co-ordinate the training sector by assuring quality, inclusiveness and relevance for the enhancement of the national economy and global competitiveness.

TVET Goal

To provide relevant and adequate skills and competencies in strategic disciplines by 2020 for spurring industrial and economic development in line with the aspirations of the Kenyan peoples

The main objective of TVET is to develop an effectively co-ordinated and harmonized TVET system that is capable of producing quality skilled human resource with the right attitudes and values required for growth and prosperity of the various sectors of the economy.

Specific objectives of TVET are to: –

• Provide adequate and appropriate  skilled Artisans, Craftsmen, Technicians and Technologists at all levels of the economy through practical training and work experience;
• Transfer technology continuously  through collaborative approach between TVET institutions and the relevant industries;
• Promote dignity and decency of labour, particularly manual work;
• Provide  increased training opportunities for the increasing school leavers  and other trainees to increase employability;
• Provide continuous upgrading of skills and knowledge at the pace and ability of the trainees;
• Provide a dynamic curriculum responsive to the manpower needs of a dynamic economy;Impart marketable skills,  technical know-how and attitudes that respond to contemporary labour market demands by the industry, informal sector and for self-employment;

Competency Based Education and Training Policy Framework