Today 14^th August 2024, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) through the Dual TVET project hosted the Private Sector Engagement Forum under the theme Promotion of Youth Employment; Dual TVET Training. The engagement brought together over 50 industry representatives within the private sector, together with government TVET Institutions, development partners and other industry players, all united by a common goal: to bridge the gap between education and employment through the Dual TVET model. Gracing the event was Priscilla Kerebi, Vice Chair of KEPSA’s Education Sector Board (TVET) and Mr George Aluru, Chair of KEPSA’s Energy Sector Board.

The Dual TVET Program is currently being implemented through the Ministry of Education, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development through GIZ Kenya; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. This initiative aims to enhance skills development and workforce readiness among graduates in the country. The Program targets to equip over 6000 Kenyan youth with skills by the year 2026 and has partnered with over 60 TVET Institutions, currently having 600 students undergoing the Dual Training.

The forum served as a vibrant platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration, highlighting the critical role of private sector involvement in shaping a skilled and future-ready workforce. Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions on how the Dual TVET approach, which combines in-class education with hands-on industry experience, is transforming the employment landscape for Kenyan youth.

To ensure the success and effectiveness of the Dual TVET program, collaboration with industry is essential, in regards to this, some of the key sectors that were represented in the event include: Manufacturing, Textile and Apparel, Fashion and Design, Hotel Industry, Building & Construction and automotive industry. These sectors were represented by Companies such as: New Kenya Cooperative Creameries, TECHWIN Limited, Deesa Cooling Systems, Nerit Luxury Leather, Array Digital Technology and Marene Farms among others.

While giving his opening remarks, Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Global Director, Youth and Jobs and Ajira Digital highlighted the constant change around the global context of Jobs and Youth employment with the new technological advancements and digital transformation. Currently over 36% of young people were currently unemployed with those between 18-24 and women being the most affected, which Dr Ehud attributed to the high skills mismatch in the country and could only be resolved through Industry and Academia collaboration.

‘The problem of skills mismatch and half-baked graduates has to be addressed by all actors in the ecosystem. Businesses and industry at large need to begin working towards providing what the market needs and Academia can now catch up and provide ways of training the youth on market relevant skills. Let’s take the responsibility of changing the current unemployment status in the country through our little ways’

Representing GIZ Kenya, Immaculate Otieno gave a well detailed presentation of the overview of Dual TVET in Kenya while also mentioning some of the key objectives and milestones of the project. Ms Immaculate also noted that over 100 institutions were currently offering Dual Training across the country and 1300 Companies have so far participated by offering slots for the project.

While addressing the issue of Academia and industry alignment, David Gatimu from the TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council stated the important role played by CDACC in ensuring that the training provided meets the highest standards of quality and relevance.

"Our rigorous competence assessments guarantee that graduates are not only knowledgeable but also capable of performing to industry expectations. Through our certification process, we validate that the training outcomes are credible, giving both employers and trainees the confidence that they are part of a robust and future-ready workforce development system."

By fostering stronger connections between TVET institutions and private sector, the event brought together TVETs such as Kiambu National Polytechnic, Thika Technical Training Institute and Nairobi Technical Training Institute. While giving a brief presentation on the Success of Dual TVET Implementation, Wycliffe Imbayi, a trainer from Thika TTI, highlighted some of the benefits for industry from Dual Training that include; High retention rates amongst employees, reducing the skills gap and access to a wide pool of students trained to meet international standards.

This engagement is timely as we approach the September intake for the Dual TVET program. Companies are urged to offer training slots for students to gain practical experience. By providing these opportunities, they’re not only contributing to the development of a skilled workforce but also investing in the future of your industry.

This marks another milestone in KEPSA’s ongoing commitment to youth empowerment, as the organization continues to champion initiatives that align educational outcomes with industry demands, ultimately driving Kenya’s economic growth. KEPSA’s initiative is not just creating job opportunities but also ensuring that young Kenyans are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.

Call to action

• To offer slots or support any of our initiatives please reach out to us at kyeeap@kepsa.or.ke or to the Dual TVET Nairobi Region Project officer- Brenda Ochieng on bochieng@kepsa.or.ke  and Coast Region Officer Maurice Owaka on mowaka@kepsa.or.ke