State rolls out system to address skill gaps, youth unemployment

From left: Dr. Paul Murgor, Charles Koech, TVET Director Meshack Opwora and Prof. Peter Okwemwa. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

The government has rolled out the Dual Training System to address unemployment and skills gaps among the youth.

Through the programme, graduates would be largely exposed to practical knowledge - as opposed to theory - required to join the job market.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said the roll-out of the programme would be implemented through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs ).

The CS reiterated that his ministry is determined to promote the growth of Tvets by training quality personnel through the implementation of a competence-based curriculum.

Machogu made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by TVET Director Meshack Opwora during the annual 12th National Research, Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development forum at Eldoret National Polytechnic.

According to the CS, the competence-based education and training (CBET) programmes are intended to prepare the learners to enable them to achieve specific jobs through the classes and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

"This programme is geared towards delivering the distinct advantage of skills and knowledge needed by the industry as they emphasise practical training to boost confidence and generate employability," said Machogu.

Machogu revealed that the government has retrained 115 trainers of Eldoret National Polytechnic through the Kenya School of Tvet as the first cohort of CBET curriculum champions.

He stated that the learning initiative is expected to retrain others to enhance faculty resources in spearheading CBET courses in all public Tvet institutions across the country.

"My ministry has also partnered with the private sectors to provide internships and employment opportunities to the trainees through a structured mechanism for micro, small, and medium enterprises to improve on their knowledge and skills," said Machogu.