State inaugurates training advisory committee in bid to bridge skills gap

TVET Principal Secretary Esther Muoria before the National Assembly Education Committee to deliberate strategic issues arising from inspection visits to National Polytechnics, at Bunge Towers, Nairobi, on May 22, 2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] 

In a bid to strengthen the link between education and employment, the Ministry of Education, through the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), has inaugurated the Dual Training Advisory Committee.

This marked a major milestone in the implementation of Kenya’s Dual Training Policy, approved by the Cabinet in January 2025.

The newly launched Advisory Committee will serve as the central governance and oversight body for the national rollout of the dual training system.

The system integrates classroom-based instruction with structured on-the-job training in industry — a model aimed at producing job-ready graduates and addressing persistent mismatches between training outcomes and labour market needs.

“Let this committee stand as a model of collaboration and a driving force for change,” said  TVET Principal Secretary Esther Muoria, in remarks delivered by Acting Secretary for TVET, Joseph Njau.

“Together, we will make dual training a cornerstone of Kenya’s workforce transformation and national development.”

The committee comprises of representatives from government agencies, the private sector, development partners, and civil society.

Its core mandate includes providing strategic policy guidance, ensuring quality and relevance of training programs, and overseeing the alignment of TVET curricula with market trends and industrial standards.

The committee will meet quarterly and submit regular progress reports to the Ministry.

A symbolic highlight of the launch was the signing of Acceptance Notes by committee members, each affirming their commitment to the vision of dual training and its role in shaping Kenya’s workforce of the future.

The Dual Training Policy, under which the committee was established, seeks to institutionalize work-based learning across all TVET institutions in Kenya.

It is modeled on successful approaches used in countries like Germany, where apprenticeships and industry-academia collaboration form the backbone of vocational education.

Since 2019, Kenya has piloted the dual training approach across select TVET institutions with support from a €15 million joint financing agreement by the Governments of Finland and Germany.

The funding has enabled the rollout of pilot programmes, training of instructors, and establishment of partnerships with local industries offering internship and mentorship opportunities to students.

Stakeholders at the launch emphasized the urgency of transforming TVET to better respond to the needs of a rapidly changing economy. “Kenya is facing a paradox of youth unemployment amidst a shortage of skilled labour. The dual training model is our answer to that paradox,” said Njau.

The launch of the Advisory Committee is seen as the first step in scaling up the model nationwide and embedding it within the national education and employment policy frameworks.

“This is not just a structural shift — it’s a mindset shift,” said one industry representative in attendance.

“For years, we’ve talked about the skills gap. This committee shows that we’re finally doing something concrete to close it.”

The success of the dual training initiative is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing youth employability, promoting entrepreneurship, and accelerating industrial growth.