The State Department for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary, Dr Esther Muoria, has defended the government’s modularised TVET programme, introduced in 2025, saying it aligns technical education with industry needs and global labour market trends.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Dr Muoria emphasised that the programme was developed following extensive stakeholder consultations. She noted that principals were actively involved in implementing TVET training.
She stated that reforms began in 2018 to shift the sector towards Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), and that a circular issued in September 2023 formalised the requirement that all TVET programmes now follow CBET principles.
The Kenya Union of Technical and Vocational Education Trainers (KUTVET), led by Secretary General Kepher Oguwi, had raised concerns that the modularised curriculum was hurriedly implemented and expensive, claiming that low enrolment and high dropout rates had followed the changes.
Dr Muoria dismissed these claims, explaining that the modularised system is more affordable than the previous fee structure.
Previously, Level 3 modules cost between KSh 32,000 and 49,000 per term; Level 4 ranged from KSh 84,000 to 121,000; Level 5 ranged from KSh 174,000 to 242,000; and Diploma-level courses (Level 6) ranged from KSh 261,000 to 363,000.
Under the new modularised system, Level 3 modules cost KSh 35,000, while Level 4 courses cost KSh 70,000 for two modules, significantly reducing the financial burden on students.
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“The fee was capped at KSh 35,000 for level 3 for all students, regardless of the course they were pursuing. This decision followed a stakeholders’ meeting held at PC Kinyanjui,” she added.
Dr Muoria explained that CBET is delivered through short modules, allowing trainees to enter the job market sooner while reducing both costs and training duration.
She urged parents to support their children in paying school fees, noting that the government continues to provide capitation and HELB funding, though resources remain limited.
“Money is not always enough. As a government, we are making efforts to allocate resources. Still, sometimes the funds available are insufficient,” she said, adding that the last capitation was disbursed in the first week of January 2026.
Responding to complaints from principals, who spoke anonymously to the media, that exam preparations were inadequate, and students struggled due to delayed capitation, Dr Muoria said the assessment system remains robust. For Levels 3 and 4, exams are formative and conducted during training, whereas written exams apply only to Levels 5 and 6.
“One and a half months is enough to train students to sit for the examinations,” she said, defending the Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC) against criticism over its handling of exams.
CDACC has been accused of passing exam administration costs to TVET institutions. The union stated that some institutions lack the facilities to print exam papers, and trainers are not paid for administering the exams.
Dr Muoria also highlighted the growth in TVET enrolment under the Kenya Kwanza government, noting that the number of students increased from 300,000 to 800,000.
She added that she could not provide an exact number of dropouts, as under the modular system, students can complete a unit, enter the workforce, and return later to continue another module.
By Obegi Malack
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