Government takes over dual TVET programme as stakeholders push for sustainability

The government is set to take full responsibility for the implementation of the Dual Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) model following the conclusion of the project-supported phase.

The transition was highlighted during the Mt. Kenya Regional Dual TVET Project Closure and Handover Meeting, where TVET institutions, industry representatives, trainees, government officials and development partners reviewed the progress of the programme and discussed its future.

Dual TVET combines classroom-based theoretical learning with structured practical training in companies, allowing trainees to gain workplace experience alongside their technical education.

Twenty TVET institutions in the region have participated in the programme under the Promotion of Youth Employment and Vocational Training Project, implemented through the State Department for TVET with technical support from GIZ Kenya.

The current phase began in 2023 and is scheduled to conclude in December 2026, building on an earlier pilot programme that ran from 2019 to 2022.

Speaking during the handover meeting, Regional Director for TVETs in Mt. Kenya West Charles Nyota said institutions would need to strengthen internal systems to sustain the model.

Nyota said plans include expanding mentorship programmes, increasing the number of institutions with Dual Training champions, mobilising resources through income-generating activities and improving trainers' capacity.

For trainees, the model has provided an opportunity to gain practical experience before completing their studies.

Former Ndia TVC student Alex Maina said workplace training helped him translate classroom knowledge into practical skills and contributed to his transition into employment.

Maina said he undertook industrial training at KICOWASCO before completing his examinations and later securing work in water and plumbing maintenance at Masinga Dam.

Industry representatives have also highlighted the role of employers in the programme, saying involvement in training allows businesses to interact with potential employees while they are still in college.

The handover now places greater responsibility on government and participating institutions to maintain collaboration with industry and ensure workplace-based training remains relevant to labour market needs.

The programme is part of efforts to strengthen the relevance, quality and inclusivity of Kenya's TVET system and improve pathways from technical training to employment.