The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) graduates could soon have access to dental healthcare jobs in Germany as the institution steps up efforts to link its trainees to international employment opportunities.
The college is assessing the German labour market to identify opportunities for Kenyan dental health professionals, with a delegation led by Chief Executive Officer Kelly Oluoch visiting the country to engage prospective employers and assess industry requirements.
In a statement issued on October 8, KMTC said the mission involves ABC Deutschland and the African Business Community Kenya, with discussions focusing on workforce demand, professional competencies and the requirements for employment in Germany.
“Our vision is not only to train competent health professionals, but to ensure that their skills can take them wherever opportunities exist. Germany offers opportunities for our dental health graduates, and KMTC is deliberately building partnerships and pathways to connect them to that market,” said Oluoch.
The delegation visited Dental Zentrum, where lead dental surgeon Martin Golliner said Germany has more than 70,000 practising dentists, with individual clinics requiring at least two dental assistants to support their operations.
The demand for dental support staff could provide an opening for KMTC graduates trained in community oral health and dental technology as the college seeks to align its programmes with international labour market needs.
KMTC Head of the Community Oral Health Department Dr George Githu said shifts in dental disease patterns and demographic changes in Germany could create opportunities for graduates to serve in both private and public dental care facilities.
The team also toured Unterberger Dental, a laboratory where dental technologists from various countries manufacture oral prostheses and appliances, including dentures, crowns and bridges.
The visits provided the college with an opportunity to examine the technical skills, equipment and professional standards expected in the German dental sector.
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Deputy Director Academics Prof Nyawira Mwangi said the findings would help KMTC strengthen the preparation of students seeking international careers.
“What we have observed gives us valuable insight into how we can prepare our Dental Technology and Community Oral Health students for international practice,” she said.
KMTC Head of the Dental Technology Department Joseph Wainaina said the practical training offered by the college could help graduates adjust to new technologies and evolving practices in the dental industry.
To prepare students for the potential placements, KMTC plans to introduce German-language lessons for relevant programmes in the 2026/27 academic year.
German dental specialists and ABC Deutschland representatives are also expected to interact with students to explain workplace standards and the preparations required for employment in Germany.
KMTC dental programmes
KMTC offers two three-year dental programmes: the Diploma in Community Oral Health and the Diploma in Dental Technology.
The Community Oral Health programme trains students in preventive and primary oral healthcare, public education and the management of common dental conditions. Training includes scaling, polishing, fillings and minor oral surgical procedures, including tooth extractions, at Level IV and V hospitals.
Applicants must have a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of C (Plain), with at least C (Plain) in English or Kiswahili and Biology or Biological Sciences. They must also attain at least C- (Minus) in any two of Physics or Physical Sciences, Chemistry and Mathematics.
The Dental Technology programme focuses on the design, manufacture and repair of dental prostheses and appliances. Students learn to produce dentures, orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, alongside laboratory techniques used to restore oral function and improve dental appearance.
Entry requirements include a minimum KCSE mean grade of C (Plain), with at least C (Plain) in English or Kiswahili and Physics, Physical Sciences or Chemistry. Applicants must also have at least C- (Minus) in Biology or Biological Sciences.
The proposed German employment pathway could give graduates of the two programmes an additional route into the labour market.
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