This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
As Kenya continues to develop, it is essential to recognize the crucial role that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) plays in the country's sustainable growth.
According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, TVET is a key action area in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of education and decent work and economic growth.
However, for TVET to be effective, governments must renovate and reinvent to ensure an enabling environment nationwide. This includes reviewing TVET policies for quality assurance and better management, as well as deploying organizational practices to support innovation in the sector.
TVET has traditionally been seen as a relatively unattractive educational option compared to higher education. However, it has a particular advantage for developing countries like Kenya, allowing for occupational change and mobility, and providing infrastructure to cope with these changes.
Moreover, TVET can provide a greater degree of satisfaction at work, higher levels of self-esteem arising from increased earnings and independence of workers, and more investment by employers.
Indeed, technology can be employed to deliver TVET to more people as virtual platforms become globally available.
Ms. Doreen Odhiambo, a strategic management consultant and PhD candidate of development studies at JKUAT, emphasizes the need for innovation in TVET delivery, including substantial changes in the curriculum, materials used, selection of trainers, and training to ensure TVET progressively responds to evolving labour demands.
