The critical role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in economic growth and social transformation in Kenya will come into focus at a national conference and skills show
scheduled for tomorrow (January 26, 2017).
Stakeholders from both private and public sectors will converge at KICC, Nairobi, on January 26 to 28 in a new effort to position TVET in line with Vision 2030 and current economic trends.
The Hands on the Future National Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Conference which wil be foll Kenya Skills Show are being organised by the Permanent Working Group (PWG) on Technical & Vocational Education and Training in Kenya. It is expected to attract exhibitors from various sectors serving or targeting the TVET sector.
Mr Kevit Desai, the chairman of the PGW, says the conference will debate policy issues in the implementation of reforms to the TVET sector in Kenya. “We also want to strengthen collaborations among TVET partners and showcase relevant best practices, services and innovations to stimulate interest in TVET opportunities among students, youth and the general public,” said Mr Desai.
The Permanent Working Group (PWG) on Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Kenya was formed in 2014 and comprises nearly 100 public and private stakeholders involved in the TVET ecosystem in Kenya. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is one of the initiatives key in achieving Vision 2030. It is estimated that to attain the various mega projects under Vision 2030, the country requires at least 30,000 technologists, 90,000 technicians, and more than 400,000 craftsmen.
Most of these professionals, among others, will be developed through TVET as the country moves towards establishing a globally competitive and quality TVET system of education, training and research for sustainable development.
The conference and skills show will build upon the success of the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector in Kenya and strengthen collaboration across the ecosystem. This comes at a time when TVET Authority and PWG are pushing for a shift to competency based vocational education and training.
“A strengthened TVET ecosystem will substantially contribute to addressing youth unemployment and the skills gap present in many sectors in Kenya,” says Mr Desai.
To tap the immense potential of the TVET system in contributing to the country’s social and economic development, stakeholders from government, private sector, academia and development partners meet regularly to deliberate on appropriate ways of establishing a globally competitive and quality TVET system of education, training and research.
