Nairobi: The Principal Secretary of the State Department for Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, has highlighted the significant progress in the implementation of Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) as pivotal in equipping graduates with essential employment skills to positively impact the Kenyan economy. Dr. Muoria made these remarks during the launch of a Fashion and Design workshop at the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI), where she also officiated the institution’s 14th graduation ceremony, celebrating over 1,800 graduates transitioning into the workforce.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Muoria reiterated the government’s steadfast commitment to Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key driver of Kenya’s social and economic transformation. She emphasized that skills are crucial for translating national policy into tangible productivity, opportunities, and shared prosperity. The government’s focus on TVET is now firmly rooted in investments that enhance access, relevance, quality, and equity.
Dr. Muoria noted that enrollment in TVET has surged by 139 percent since 2022, mirroring a renewed public trust in TVET as a respected and market-relevant educational pathway. The relevance of TVET has been bolstered by CBET, modular training, and industry-led program designs. She further detailed ongoing efforts to improve quality through assessment reforms, continuous trainer development, equipment upgrades, and strengthened institutional governance.
The PS also highlighted advancements in equity through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative, which extends opportunities to vulnerable youth, individuals in correctional facilities, refugees, and skilled artisans in the informal economy. She emphasized that skills transcend age, gender, and social boundaries. Notably, RVTTI has graduated 39 skilled artisans certified through RPL, while 65 inmate-artisans from correctional services graduated in absentia last week at Kitale National Polytechnic, demonstrating Kenya Kwanza’s commitment to inclusive opportunities.
Dr. Muoria stressed that TVET is central to Kenya’s development agenda, serving as the link between education and productivity, learning and enterprise, aspiration and opportunity. The shift to CBET, alongside the rollout of modularized curricula, the expansion of dual training, and the scaling of RPL, are part of a comprehensive national strategy to ensure that Kenyan skills align with real labor market demands, both locally and globally.