TVETs are critical in the global education system and the master key that can alleviate poverty, Mount Kenya University vice chancellor Deogratius Jaganyi has said.
“Technical and Vocational Education and Training plays a vital role in preparing the required labour force of many countries and helps achieve sustainable development,” he said.
Jaganyi spoke during the inaugural graduation of the Equip Africa College of Medical and Health Sciences in December.
“TVETs' mandate is focused on specific occupations and has allowed individuals to find skill-related jobs or start their own employment,” he said.
The VC added that majority of students who sit KCSE every year are absorbed by TVET institutions.
"This cohort of students, make the bulk of the candidate population who qualify for training in the various TVET institutions," Jaganyi said.
In 2020, more than 747,000 students sat their KCSE and only 143,140, or about 19 per cent, attained a mean grade of C+ to gain entry to universities.
About 80 per cent or more than 600,000 students, scored a mean grade of C and below.
Jaganyi said continued performance of TVETs has seen the government introduce changes in the education sector.
He said this aims to emphasise more on skill-based training as opposed to knowledge-based learning with the introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum.
"This aims to harness and nurture pupils' talents from an early age. It also helps develop their attitude towards accepting and growing their abilities,” the VC said.
The Kitale-based Equip Africa College is a middle-level training college focusing on healthcare training.
It has a capacity for 5,000 students and offers certificate and diploma programmes to bridge the existing gap of trained health professionals.
At the graduation ceremony, the college awarded 175 students with certificates and diplomas in different disciplines.
They include community health and development, health records and IT and Nutrition and Dietetics.
The college is enrolling students for the January-February 2022 intake.
Equip Africa executive director Evans Kerosi said learners with medical and health sciences qualifications could work in diverse areas.
Kerosi said suitable areas include environmental, health, occupational safety and sustainability industries.
“Once you have medical and health science qualification, your prospects for more specialised and advanced skills are enhanced,” he said.
He added that there are also opportunities in non-clinical healthcare jobs.
“Health sciences graduates can pursue non-clinical positions that require an in-depth understanding of clinical work or the healthcare industry as a whole,” Kerosi added.
Regional head — TVET Authority North Rift region — Phoebe Makanga said the government has been undertaking reforms to integrate global best practices.
She said this will help link the TVET system outputs with labour market requirements.
The reforms, she said, include the introduction of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), dual training (College and industry collaboration), devolution of vocational education (VTCs) as well as increased enrolment in TVET due to improved image.
“Quality TVET programmes guarantee a strong link between skills learnt and the needs of the labour market,” she said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)