12,000 trainees complete dual TVET training

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More than 12,000 trainees across the country have so far completed training under the dual Technical and vocational education and Training programme, reflecting growing efforts to align technical education with the needs of industry.

The dual training approach allows students to divide their learning between classroom instruction and practical experience within companies, enabling them to gain hands-on skills that match labour market demands.

The programme is implemented through partnerships between training institutions and private sector companies.

According to TVET officials, about 3,700 industries across the country have already joined the initiative.

Regional TVET director for Kisumu and Siaya, Audrey Monica, said the model is gradually reshaping technical training by giving students exposure to real working environments while they are still in school.

Monica spoke in Kisumu during the Western Region Dual TVET Week held at Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology, where institutions and industry partners displayed technical programmes and innovations to students, employers, and other education stakeholders.

She said the goal of the initiative is to produce a skilled workforce that can compete not only locally but also at the international level. Monica noted that increased participation by industry players has strengthened the programme, adding that companies also benefit by being directly involved in training future workers.

"When companies host trainees, they lower their labour costs and at the same time help shape the skills trainees develop according to industry needs. Many of these trainees are later absorbed into employment after completing their training,” she said.

She added that the programme also supports the government’s Kazi Majuu initiative, which seeks to prepare skilled workers for opportunities in the global labour market.

Monica further said the Western Region Dual TVET Week attracted both junior and senior secondary school learners, giving them an opportunity to learn about technical career paths before making decisions about their future studies.

Early exposure to technical fields helps learners make informed choices and reduces the risk of selecting courses that do not match their interests or career goals, she said.

During the event, participants toured exhibition stands highlighting programmes in areas such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, building and civil engineering, plumbing, information and communication technology, cosmetology, hairdressing, and food and beverage management.

Shamberere National Polytechnic principal Dr Elisha Nyamu said collaboration between TVET institutions and industry has helped address the long-standing disconnect between training and labour market requirements.

He said the partnership ensures that students graduate with practical skills that make them ready for employment.

Nyamu added that the exposure students receive through workplace training has also increased their chances of securing jobs even before they complete their studies.

Easter Ndichu, senior project manager for Vocational Training Services at AHK Eastern Africa, said the dual TVET model introduced in Kenya in 2019 has shown promising results but still requires wider awareness among stakeholders.

Ndichu explained that the programme draws inspiration from Germany’s dual training system and aims to strengthen cooperation between learning institutions and industry. She said greater awareness is needed to encourage more institutions and companies to participate in the model.

The Western Region Dual TVET Week is the second such event to be held in the country after the inaugural edition that took place earlier in Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

Stakeholders say the forums are intended to expand industry partnerships and strengthen the pipeline of skilled technical workers in Kenya.