Nyeri: Trainees graduating from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions will no longer be required to wear academic robes during graduation. This follows a directive by Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department for TVETs, Dr. Esther Muoria, instructing all TVETs to design appropriate academic attire that matches each of the technical disciplines offered in the respective institutions.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Muoria explained that this change will ensure that those graduating are identifiable by their area of training. Traditionally, TVET graduates have been donning the conventional robe and sash during graduation, a scenario she noted was not doing much to promote the skills and expertise acquired by the trainees. She emphasized that the attire, which is heavily borrowed from universities, misrepresented the spirit of TVETs, which focuses on technical and vocational skills rather than academic achievements.
Dr. Muoria stated, "Going forward we are not going to be graduating our graduates in gowns like we have been doing. Gowns are academic, and we are technical, so graduands in the different technical departments will henceforth graduate in their respective work attire; Mechanics will wear overalls, chefs will wear the chef's uniform." She further added that this change will communicate to the world that TVETs are aligning graduation attire with the correct technical specialties, ensuring clarity in the graduates' areas of expertise.
The PS made these remarks during the 6th graduation ceremony of the Nyeri National Polytechnic, where a total of 2,500 graduands were awarded certificates and diplomas in various technical and artisan courses. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting the growth of the TVET sector with plans to modernize infrastructure and equip institutions with the latest training tools. To accommodate the growth in student population from 350,000 in 2022 to the current 850,000 students, Dr. Muoria announced that the State would recruit 1,000 additional trainers this year.
Dr. Muoria also mentioned ongoing efforts to retool TVET trainers to ensure their skills align with the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework at the Kenya School of TVETs. She noted the high number of applications from trainers eager to upgrade their skills in CBET, and the ministry's initiative to allow trainers to attend any reputable institution to expedite this process.
Moreover, the PS urged TVETs to reduce reliance on government funding by finding alternative revenue-generating streams to sustain operations. She stressed the importance of adopting cost-saving measures, such as using solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, to alleviate the financial burden on government resources.
Dr. Muoria also challenged TVETs to embrace their role as centers of technical expertise by utilizing their own skills and training to reduce costs. She highlighted the unnecessary outsourcing of skills and products that institutions could produce internally, such as in construction projects, encouraging them to consume their own knowledge and training before seeking external contractors.