The Bureti National Polytechnic has become one of the pioneering Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions to embrace the Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum, enabling trainees to acquire practical skills that are relevant to the job market. The institution, which is situated in Bureti sub-county within Kericho County, embarked on a progressive training model targeting to impart learners with both knowledge and skills across all courses offered. Speaking during the first graduation ceremony held at the institution’s grounds on Thursday, Deputy Director in Charge of Policy at the TVET Directorate, Mr. Frank Mukuna, commended the learning institution for embracing the CBET curriculum, enhancing the quality of its training, and increasing the employability of the graduates. ‘I am impressed that Bureti National Polytechnic has embraced CBET courses,’ said Mukuna. Mr. Mukura, who represented TVET Principal Secretary Dr. Esther Moria, said the government was committed to supporting TVETs as they remained the chief enablers of the attainment of Vision 2030 and the sustainable development goals. ‘We understand Kenya Vision 2030 emphasises or aims at making Kenya into a middle-income industrialised country with quality of life for every citizen. When we look at Session Paper No. 5, it talks about putting that particular weight on TVET. With an enhanced TVET system, we will be able to churn in the skilled manpower that this economy is in need of to move it to the next level, realising that this is why we are moving away from time-bound training to hands-on training.’ said Mukura. He noted that CBET was advantageous as it seeks to develop competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and digital literacy in Kenyan learners rather than memorising facts and figures and thus preparing them for the changing demands of the global economy and society. The deputy director revealed that the government’s affordable housing agenda was a timely opportunity for TVET institutions to partner with the building and construction sectors to strengthen links and expand job opportunities for learners equipped with relevant skills and competencies from their respective disciplines. ‘Currently, the state department for TVET is partnering with the government for the construction of affordable housing units, county industrial parks, and road construction. These projects are doubling up as training grounds for our students, and our institutions are also faced with the opportunity to supply other products for those particular projects. We are going to supply labour from our TVET institutions. As you are being trained, you will be paid for the road construction projects going around that particular institution. We have been able to equip TVET institutions with the assistance of the government with state-of-the-art equipment so that we can be able to produce the requisite raw materials that will be required in those construction projects that are going on.’ said Mukuna. In the same breath, majority leader of the Senate, Aaron Cheruiyot, reiterated that the government was actively engaging TVET-trained youths in the implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformative Agenda (BETA) in the areas of affordable housing, agriculture, the digital creativity economy, and SMEs. Kericho Governor Dr. Eric Mutai said the county government is embarking on an ambitious programme to sponsor 3,000 students in the county who will benefit from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Teacher Training College (TTC) scholarships as the county is facing a skilled labour shortage of blue-collar professionals. Bureti National Polytechnic Senior Principal Sammy Cheruiyot said CBET-based training was designed to equip trainees with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that instill critical thinking, creative problem solving, and adaptation to the dynamic demands of the global economy. ‘Bureti National Polytechnic has fostered an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship were nurtured, allowing learners to become agents of change with a positive impact on society. With the implementation of CBET courses across all disciplines, this progressive approach to education has brought about a paradigm shift in learning, enabling our learners to acquire practical skills that are directly applicable in the real world. ‘By embracing CBET, our institution has ensured we graduate as competent professionals, ready to contribute meaningfully to their respective fields,’ noted Cheruiyot. A total of 660 graduands pursuing studies in agriculture, building technology, carpentry, plumbing, masonry, business, artisan, electrical engineering, ICT, information studies, social work, automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, and welding and fabrication were awarded certificates at diploma and higher diploma levels.
Source: Kenya News Agency