KEPSA LAUNCHES DUAL TVET PROGRAM TO ENHANCE INDUSTRY-LED SKILLS FOR YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY IN KENYA

BY VICTORIA MOVINE

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in partnership with The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, announced a new partnership on March 1, 2024 on the implementation of Dual training in Kenya with an aim to revolutionize skills development and enhance youth employability by bridging the gap between education and industry. 

The new partnership that was launched at Sarova Panafric hotel Nairobi, will help trainees gain skills through industry training and mentorship to complement training at technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions,match businesses with the right skill set and result in improved productivity and retention rates for their employees and also ensure TVET curricula aligns seamlessly with the dynamic needs of industries hence leading to increased employment prospects for TVET graduates.

GIZ officials together with KEPSA officials launching the The Dual Training Program Partnership at the Sarova Panafric hotel Nairobi 

GIZ GmbH a German organization, has worked and partnered with national , international and private sectors in Kenya for over four decades. It implements initiatives that support the German Federal Government in achieving its objectives in international cooperation for sustainable development. 

The Principal Secretary State Department of TVET Dr. Esther Muoria expressed her remarks in a speech that dual training has been in existence and practiced in several developed countries over decades and has proven to be a stronger strategy for imparting practical skills to trainees, as well as one of the best ways to recruit competent trainees since they are trained in industry, by industry, and for industry. 

She stated, “I acknowledge with commendation, the key role played by our international development partners from the Governments of Germany and Finland through the GIZ-Project, which is supporting the implementation of a Dual Training Program in TVET institutions from an initial pilot of 7 institutions to an increased target of 60+ plus institutions by 2026. It is through this collaboration that so far, dual training has taken shape in 26 institutions, with 265 industries onboarded and 513 trainees’ capacity built in Nairobi, Coast, and Western regions.” 

The Counsellor for Skills Development and Job Creation at the Embassy of Finland, Matts Weurlander, reassured Finland’s unwavering support for the Dual Training Program and deep commitment to empowering Kenyan youth and enhancing their employability prospects.

In his address he said, “We live in a dynamic world where for example technologies such as Artificial Intelligence have disrupted a lot in the industry. Hence a call for flexible approaches that change with time. The private sector should therefore be in a continuous dialogue with the institutions of education to exchange ideas on how the labour market needs to adopt as well as the relevant skills. This will not only benefit the young people and students but rather is a cost-saving mechanism for businesses as they get to access quality and refined talents, saving on the cost of retraining at the organizational level.”

A beneficiary of the program Barbra Akoth, a student from Nairobi Technical Training Institute (NTTI), said that as TVET institutions students, they benefit by getting opportunities to access industry knowledge firsthand and invaluable practical experience, equipping them with the skills necessary to excel in their chosen fields and contribute meaningfully to the workforce.

The Dual Training Program Partnership seeks to equip over 6,000 Kenyan youth, including 40% women and 1% persons with disabilities, with skills to enhance employability and contribute to Kenya's economic growth.