The Ministry of Education has published a list of policies set to be implemented to streamline the education sector.
As listed in the National Education Policy, Sessional Paper 2024, the Ministry under Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu will establish the TVET Trainer Service Council.
This is meant to hire TVET trainers in the country. Per the report, the trainers are crucial in developing technical skills among trainees who enter the labour market.
"Recruitment of TVET trainers is not harmonized in the country. The Public Service Commission (PSC) recruits trainers for the institutions under MoE and other ministries. However, County Governments, private institutions, and some state agencies recruit trainers based on their regulations resulting in different schemes of service and conditions of work," read part of the document.
If the council is established, it will bridge the gap and ensure more TVET trainers are employed in different institutions.
Also, it will address the shortage of trainers in public TVET institutions under the Ministry of Education and balance the trainee-trainer ratio.
Other plans to boost TVET trainers set to be introduced by the ministry include the development and implementation of a framework for capacity building and industrial attachment for the trainers in partnership with industry stakeholders.
Additionally, the ministry also seeks to give universities the power to choose their officials including Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Principals and Deputy Principals.
Currently, these officials are recruited and/or appointed by the University Council, the Cabinet Secretary and the PSC.
According to the report, this causes delays, hinders university autonomy and undermines accountability.
In the past University students have protested decisions to appoint or fire a VC indicating their desire to be involved in this process.
In March 2023, Meru University of Science and Technology students disrupted learning by holding demonstrations after their VC Romanus Odhiambo was sent on terminal leave by the university council.
Students demanded his reinstatement adding that he had raised the standards at the institution. He was reinstated by CS Machogu days later.
In November 2023, residents and students from Moi University also took to the streets demanding the removal of the VC Isaac Kosgey citing poor management and leadership at the university.
