The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) is focusing on strengthening TVET skills development programs by creating skills competitions in order to improve the economic growth and labor market.
Regional Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Prof. Hubert Gijzen said the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills among them career guidance, counselling, communication strategies and skills competitions will help in improving the society perception among young people, enterprises and society regarding TVET thereby playing a major role in job creation.
Speaking yesterday during the WorldSkills Africa Competition report presentation on Kenya’s inaugural participation at the WorldSkills Africa Competition in Namibia that was held at a Nairobi hotel, Prof. Gijzen said the skills development taught in TVET institutions were vital as they will attract creativity and innovation among the youth.
He added that the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR) which aims at strengthening TVET programs for skills development and job creation is also focusing on digitization, environmental technologies and on solar photovoltaic.
Gijzen said, “I am delighted that the BEAR partnership in Kenya has been collaborating with the TVET Authority and other government and private partners with a focus on current technological skills that are needed for Africa’s successful green transformation.”
BEAR is a joint initiative between UNESCO, the Republic of Korea, and the governments of Kenya, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Uganda that aims at strengthening TVET programs for skills development and job creation.
He at the same time announced that UNESCO will step up its efforts via a new Regional Flagship Programs on ‘Green Skills for Green Jobs’ to address unemployment challenges among young people.
Speaking at the event, the TVETA Board Chairperson Prof. Florence Indede, said that TVET stakeholders will continue to acquire a skilled workforce that will promote industrial revolution and urged stakeholders to organize competitions to motivate young people across the country.
“There is need to facilitate and organize regional competitions and national skills competition to enhance TVET access to many young people across the country,” she stated.
Indede noted that the competition will help in selecting participants for continental and global competitions, as well mobilizing resources to ensure skills competition is a vibrant undertaking that attracts many youths to TVET.
She commended those who participated in the WorldSkills Competition in Namibia, who were selected by partners who included UNESCO, Boma International Hospital College, Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology and the National Polytechnic for playing a huge role in the WorldSkills Competitions.
