Focus shifts to practical skills in education overhaul

PHILIP ONYANGO-KNA

Kenya is implementing far-reaching reforms across the education sector aimed at strengthening competence, productivity, and relevance, Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Esther Muoria, during the first graduation ceremony at Ugenya Technical and Vocational College, Ogamba said the shift towards Competency-Based Education.

He said the training is intended to ensure learners acquire practical skills that are applicable in society and the economy.

He noted that the Ministry of Education continues to strengthen alignment between basic education, TVET and university education through the Kenya National Qualifications Framework to support seamless progression across learning pathways.

“We now have a policy, the Kenya Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (KCATS), developed together with universities, where one can transfer credits progressively earned all the way to Doctor of Philosophy level,” he said.

Ogamba challenged TVET graduates to pursue higher education and continue sharpening their skills to remain competitive in the labour market.

He observed that demand for technically competent workers continues to grow both locally and internationally across all sectors, urging TVET institutions to shift focus from training for certification to training for competence.

“The success of TVETs must not simply be measured by enrolment and graduation numbers, but by whether graduates possess the competence required by industry and whether they can create enterprises, improve productivity and solve real-world challenges,” said Ogamba.