Ruto Reverses Uhuru Era-Directive in Plans to Revamp TVETs

President William Ruto chairing a cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
President William Ruto chairing a cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
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William Ruto

The Cabinet on Tuesday, March 3, reinstated the operation of the Technical and Vocational Education & Training-Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC).

According to a Cabinet despatch sent to newsrooms, the members of President William Ruto's Cabinet made the decision in line with the goal of enhancing the ability of TVETs to equip the youth with skills. 

In doing so, the cabinet reversed an earlier decision made during the tenure of President Uhuru Kenyatta which had abolished the TVET-CDACC in 2022.

A file image of TVET students engaged in practical studies.
A file image of TVET students engaged in practical studies.
File

Consequently, the TVET-CDACC is expected to assume the mandate of assessing the qualifications and reviewing the curriculum taught in TVET institutions in the country- a decision that had been previously bestowed upon the Kenya National Examination Council. 

The Cabinet, according to despatch, resolved to reinstate the council as part of the government's plans to enhance the ability of TVETs in imparting competencies and skills to the youth. 

"The re-establishment of CDACC will anchor the development of learner-centred, flexible, and demand-driven and industry-led TVET curricula for training institutions," the statement read in part. 

"This measure secures examination, assessment, and competence certification as the lynchpin for the Administration’s Transformative Plan for the nation, espoused as the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)." 

Plans to re-establish the council commenced in December 2022 after a report by the Directorate of University Education rejected the proposed Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) advanced during the former regime. 

In early March 2023, Principal Secretary to the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Esther Muoria made public the plans arguing that polytechnics and TVET institutions had already developed systems of examining their learners. 

“In universities, students are admitted, trained, examined, graduated and certified on the same plane, why are we training students and having KNEC examine them?” the PS posed while addressing the issue in a past function. 

Following the nod by cabinet, polytechnics and TVETs will examine and assess competencies independently as opposed to the previous system where they had to rely on state bodies. 

President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alongside CSs at State House in Nairobi County on October 27, 2022.
President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alongside CSs at State House in Nairobi County on October 27, 2022.
PCS