Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has affirmed the government’s commitment to increasing investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to equip millions of Kenyan youths with essential skills and knowledge.
By the end of 2025, the Ministry of Education aims to increase TVET enrolment from the current 500,000 learners to two million learners.
Speaking in Mombasa during the transformation of the old Mama Ngina Secondary School into a TVET college, Ogamba emphasized the transformative role of TVET in addressing Kenya’s socio-economic challenges, including youth unemployment, skills gaps, and poverty reduction.
“We reaffirm our pledge to ensure that no Kenyan is left behind when it comes to accessing quality technical training. For Kenya to achieve its ambitious development goals under Vision 2030, we must equip our workforce with practical skills that are in high demand both locally and globally,” he stated.
Expanding TVET Access and Infrastructure
The government is committed to ensuring access, equity, and quality in TVET education. This will be achieved by prioritizing the construction of new institutions and expanding existing ones to ensure that every county has a modern TVET institution, making training more accessible to all Kenyans.
Additionally, the government will continue to provide various funding options to support students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
“Through this initiative, more young Kenyans can afford to enrol in technical courses without financial constraints,” Ogamba noted.
Industry Partnerships and Curriculum Reforms
To enhance the relevance of TVET programs, the government is carrying out intensive curriculum reforms and forging industry partnerships. This ensures that TVET institutions offer programs aligned with industry needs and emerging sectors such as digital technologies, renewable energy, and manufacturing.
The government is also intensifying efforts to promote TVET as a viable career path, changing the perception around technical education.
“This is an important shift, as we want our youth to recognize the value of hands-on skills and the career opportunities they present,” Ogamba stated, emphasizing that quality training will empower learners to contribute to the country’s economic development.
Government Support for TVET Students
To ensure uninterrupted learning, the government recently released Sh1.56 billion for upkeep and tuition loan payments to 31,263 TVET and 33,863 university students.
“In the Financial Year 2024/2025 alone, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has disbursed Sh32.7 billion for upkeep and tuition loans to 195,522 students in TVET institutions and 390,612 in universities,” the CS explained.
He further assured TVET and university students that the government is committed to fully supporting them through their studies.
KUCCPS Placement and Application Process
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) graduates are encouraged to apply for TVET opportunities whenever the Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service (KUCCPS) portal opens.
To ensure broader access, the CS directed KUCCPS to conduct another application process for eligible TVET students by June 2025, enabling a second intake in September 2025 following the May intake.
“In the same vein, I have asked KUCCPS to open its portal this month for the KCSE 2024 candidates to apply for placement into various programs in private and public universities for the 2025/2026 Academic Year,” he added.
He urged all 246,391 students who attained a mean grade of C+ and above in the 2024 KCSE examinations to apply for placement once the portal opens.
Strengthening Industry Collaboration
Technical University of Mombasa Vice Chancellor Prof. Laila Abubakar emphasized the importance of synergy between TVET institutions and industries, stating, “TVET is hands-on; there should be a symbiotic relationship between training institutions and industries to enhance practical learning.”
With these initiatives, the government is set to transform Kenya’s technical education landscape, ensuring that TVET graduates are well-equipped for the dynamic job market while fostering national economic growth.
