Kenya’s technical training landscape is set for a major transformation as all Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions prepare to fully adopt the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum by January 2026.
This shift aims to equip learners with practical, market-driven skills that meet the evolving demands of the labor market.
The announcement came during a stakeholder engagement forum held at Kenya Coast Polytechnic in Mombasa, where TVET principals from the Coast region were updated on the ongoing reforms.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the overhaul is part of the government’s strategy to modernize the education system and ensure that TVET graduates can compete in both local and global job markets.
“We do not need to waste learners’ time making them study common units that do not align with their career paths. You cannot tell me a mason must learn English just to be tested in it,” said CS Ogamba.
“We were in China the other day, and with just an earpiece, we could communicate effectively. That is where we need to go.”
The CBET model allows learners to gain specific skills in as little as three months. After completing a training module, students earn a certificate that enables them to join the workforce immediately or return later for further upskilling. Ogamba noted that the approach shortens the path to employment and supports lifelong learning.
New TVET Education Model Will Train 2 Million Youth
The government also aims to significantly boost enrolment in TVET institutions from the current 700,000 to over two million students by the end of 2025.
“Only 25 percent of 2024’s Form Four leavers will join universities this year. The remaining 75 percent will go to TVETs. We must reimagine how we deliver education and prove the impact of this model so we can secure more funding,” Ogamba added.
The CBET curriculum, introduced in all public TVETs in May 2025, promotes flexible, modular learning tailored to learners’ unique interests and abilities. So far, the TVET Authority and the Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council have approved 184 modular programmes. More than 7,000 trainers are already being prepared to implement the new system.
TVET Principal Secretary Dr. Esther Muoria emphasized that the modular approach recognizes each learner’s potential.
“A student can now earn a certificate after completing one to six modules. Those capable of acquiring three skills like bricklaying, plastering, and finishing can do so within three months,” she explained. “This is not a reform for the TVET department alone. It is a national education revolution.”
Dr. Muoria added that the CBET system is inclusive, welcoming both A-grade and E-grade students, and provides clear entry and exit pathways that support a wide range of academic backgrounds.
TVET Curriculum Council official Anthony Mwangi confirmed that the full transition will be complete by January 2026. Students currently enrolled in traditional programs will be gradually transitioned through a phased conversion.
“Current students will finish their modules by November, while new entrants will sit for specific papers in July and November, before moving fully into the new system next year,” Mwangi said.
