Industrialization Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Juma Mukhwana has underscored the need for the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to produce graduates who meet the contemporary needs and aspirations of Kenya’s industrialization agenda.
Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday during the launch of Kenya Skills Development Community of Practice (KSD-CoP) at Boma Hotel, Mukhwana noted that it was very important to produce skills that are relevant in an industry that is constantly evolving.
“It is also important to appreciate the newly launched Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy where those in the industry with skills but have no academic papers can be certified to help them access formal employment opportunities,” he said.
The PS pointed out that County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) were vital for local production besides being a dependable avenue for youth employment opportunities.
He lamented that Africa, despite having youth population advantage, had been left behind in terms of industrialization and called for concerted efforts to address the matter.
“We have a skill mismatch in Kenya because of the disconnect between demand and supply. The skills we need are not only for production but also to develop industries according to technological advances,” he observed.
The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) Director General Dr. Alice Kande underscored the importance of sustaining linkages between the industry and TVET systems.
“A lot is happening in terms of implementing regional qualification frameworks as there is a lot of labour movement across the region. Therefore we have to standardize our training so that we have qualifications that are globally recognized,” said Dr. Kande.
ALSO READ:
She added that the implementation of a robust RPL system will ensure that skills and competencies relevant to the industry needs are recognized and certified.
Dr. Kande emphasized that KNQA will ensure the maintenance of standards, quality, and relevance at all levels of Kenya’s education and training sector.
“The Authority has established and maintains the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF) that provides a system for the articulation, classification, registration, quality assurance, and monitoring and evaluation of national qualifications as developed in accordance with the KNQF Act,” she added.
The KSD-CoP, which is being championed by the government with support from International Labour Organization (ILO), seeks to promote youth employability, lifelong learning and sustainable socio-economic development through knowledge and expertise sharing, learning and professional development and improvement of practice in skills development.
It will also facilitate the sharing of knowledge and expertise, foster learning and professional development, and support the improvement of practice within a particular domain.
It will yield significant benefits for stakeholders and the broader socio-economic landscape and these expected outputs will drive the government mission to enhance the quality and effectiveness of skills development initiatives across the country.
By Our Reporter
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
