Government To Certify Non-Formal Education Skills

Government To Certify Non-Formal Education SkillsKenya is working on a policy that will guide the certification and qualifications of Kenyans who have gained skills through experiential learning.Dr. Margaret Mwakima, Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Vocational and Technical Training, stated the government will certify those who have acquired skills through indigenous knowledge through the Policy.Dr. Mwakima said during the Sigalagala National Polytechnic’s 3rd Graduation ceremony in Kakamega that the government has identified a number of youths and members of the society with skills acquired through non-formal education who are unable to seek opportunities in the country and beyond due to a lack of accreditation.“We are already finalizing capacity building of the practitioners, after which we shall roll- out the program albeit on a pilot basis, to be able to give recognition to those amongst us who have acquired skills through the non-formal way,” she noted.She explained that the initiative is part of the government’s efforts to transform the public perception of Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET), which she described as “unattractive” and “meant for learners who failed to gain slots in Universities and Colleges."Through TVET branding, making TVET a road for education, and encouraging lifelong learning, the government is dedicated to reverse this narrative, allowing the young of this country to realize their academic dreams. “It is the Ministry’s desire to have all our youths that are not in any other learning institutions to join TVET for a course because what we believe in TVET is ‘come get a skill and leave no one behind.” She said.The PS stated that technical skills will aid in the achievement of Kenya Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, the ‘Big 4’ Agenda, and the African Union Agenda 2063.“You can realize the impact that TVET is going to have in providing skills for the Kenyan labor market and beyond,” she pointed out.As a result, the government has raised the number of TVET centers from 55,000 in 2013 to the present total of 238, 000 institutions offering courses across the country.The government has created centers of excellence at several TVET centers to enhance skills in certain areas to further assist skills training.So far, the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic has been built as a center of excellence in seafarers and blue economy, the Meru National Polytechnic as a center of excellence in building technology, and the Kisumu National Polytechnic as a center of excellence in textile technology.ALSO READ:Thika Technical Training Institute for Auto Body Building and Mechanical Centre of Excellence, Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology, and Nairobi Technical Training Institute are among the other institutions established.“We are committed to coming up with more of our TVET institutions becoming centres of excellence, where we can invest in them,” she noted.Government To Certify Skills Acquired Through Non-Formal Education

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