The Busia County Department of Education and Industrial Skills Development has launched a comprehensive quality improvement initiative following the release of an audit report by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) on Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) across the county.
The department convened a consultative meeting bringing together VTC managers and senior education officials to review the audit findings, identify institutional gaps, and agree on corrective measures aimed at enhancing training quality, governance, and service delivery.
The TVETA audit assessed 17 of the county’s 27 VTCs, focusing on key performance areas including leadership and governance, training delivery, programme management, quality assurance, and physical infrastructure.
Findings revealed that while several institutions have made notable progress in infrastructure development and operational management, gaps persist in programme evaluation, institutional quality assurance systems, innovation, and benchmarking practices.
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Centres with stronger infrastructure, management systems, and compliance mechanisms performed better overall, underscoring the need for sustained investment in facilities and leadership capacity.
The audit identified physical infrastructure as a relative strength across most institutions. However, programme monitoring and evaluation systems were found to require significant improvement. It also highlighted the need to strengthen innovation, industry linkages, production units, and institutional benchmarking.
Speaking during the meeting, County Executive Committee Member for Education and Industrial Skills Development, Beatrice Nakholi, reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to raising vocational training standards and ensuring equitable support for trainees.
She emphasized that timely and adequate capitation is critical to sustaining quality training, supporting institutional operations, and improving trainee retention.
VTC managers proposed the adoption of a standardized capitation framework to better support the county’s growing trainee population, currently estimated at about 3,900 learners.
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Nakholi also stressed the importance of financial accountability, proper record management, and adherence to institutional reporting requirements.
Chief Officer for Education and Industrial Skills Development, Esau Ochakala, urged VTC managers to strengthen internal systems, maintain accurate records, improve trainee engagement, and adopt practical measures to boost institutional performance.
He further called for continuous quality improvement, stronger governance structures, and closer alignment with national TVET standards and regulatory requirements.
The department also announced plans to advance a draft policy framework aimed at improving career progression for VTC trainers, recognizing specialized technical skills, and strengthening institutional governance.
Busia County Government reiterated its commitment to transforming Vocational Training Centres into centres of excellence that equip learners with relevant technical skills, promote youth empowerment, and contribute to the county’s economic development.
By Juma Ndigo
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