This Link to TVET Institutions is for overseas Kenyan jobs
Nyandarua National Polytechnic seeks to position itself as a model institution in support of the country’s workforce development goals.
This growth reflects increased confidence in TVET institutions as centres of practical skills development. Photo/Courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
In connecting Kenyan graduates with overseas employment opportunities, especially opening doors to the job market in the UK, Nyandarua National Polytechnic has also become one of the most active catalysts in youth employment. In partnership with the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, this institution has managed to bring about some 300 students under its wings for employment in the UK.
This polytechnic also takes a leading role in promoting youth labour mobility through proactive participation in the Mkulima Majuu programme, an initiative to link qualified Kenyan youth with job opportunities abroad. The programme aims to address the problem of youth unemployment, while at the same time, enabling younger professionals to have an international perspective and rich work experience.
The Chief Principal Dr.Felix Mung’atu reported on the progress of the institution and added that the impact of these initiatives has started to cut across the UK borders. To be precise, a very fair number of graduates have secured jobs in countries such as Dubai, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Such opportunities according to Dr. Mung’atu have led to improved livelihoods for the graduates and their families, while lightening the burden of youth unemployment from the shoulders of the country.
Dr. Mung’atu further revealed that Nyandarua National Polytechnic has grown at an exponential rate in recent years, with increasing numbers of youth seeking technical and vocational skills. It has grown its enrolment significantly from around 1,500 entrants into almost 10,000 learners. This growth is indicative of the rising confidence among Kenyans about TVET institutions as effective centres for practical, market-driven skills development.
The Chief Principal credited this success to the deliberate investment in training infrastructure and partnerships with various government institutions, in addition to aligning course content with market needs. He said that this was being acknowledged as the most promising way to employment, both locally and internationally.
“New Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) approaches rolled out to develop the new CBET curricula are intended to ensure that our graduates give to industry what modern industry requires,” Dr. Mung’atu added. He added that the CBET methodology trains students in skills through hands-on experience to give them a better employability opportunity.
The program is part of a larger government agenda aimed at enhancing skills development and improving the scope of employment opportunities as well as labour mobility for Kenyans. Through linking training directly with job placement, Nyandarua National Polytechnic seeks to position itself as a model institution in support of the country’s workforce development goals.
In an age where the demand for skilled labour continues to grow all over the world, this institution’s push is bound to unveil more avenues for Kenyan youth to enjoy decent work abroad and contribute to their country by remittances and skills transfer.
About Author
