The government has rolled out a national career guidance capacity building and sensitisation programme aimed at strengthening career support systems within basic education institutions.
The initiative, unveiled by Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime, will be delivered virtually and targets school heads across the country.
It seeks to equip institutional leaders with practical tools and skills to guide learners in making informed educational and career decisions amid an increasingly competitive, evolving labour market.
During the launch, Mwadime emphasised that structured career guidance plays a critical role in addressing skills mismatches, easing the transition from school to employment, boosting employability, and supporting vulnerable and marginalised groups in re-entering education and the workforce.
The programme is being implemented by the State Department for Labour and Skills Development in partnership with the State Department for Basic Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Participants will receive training on the National Policy Framework on Career Guidance and the Guidelines for Establishing Offices of Career Services (OCS) within schools.
“These instruments will ensure every school establishes an Office of Career Services and that learners access structured career education, counselling and labour market information to guide their education, training and future occupation choices,” said Mwadime.
He noted that the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has heightened the need for structured career guidance, as students are now required to make early decisions on academic pathways, subject selections and career tracks that influence their long-term prospects.
“We are committed to building a robust and professional career guidance system that empowers learners to manage their education and career pathways in a rapidly changing environment,” he added.
Mwadime observed that many young people face difficulties transitioning from school into employment, a challenge that contributes significantly to rising youth unemployment.
READ ALSO:
Uproar after woman arrested over social media post, mother dragged from school
He cautioned that extended joblessness exposes young people to risks such as poverty, inequality, social unrest, crime, radicalisation, and substance abuse.
“Effective career guidance is central to mitigating these risks and promoting inclusive development,” he said.
The government intends to institutionalise career guidance by embedding career education into the curriculum, training professional counsellors, and ensuring teachers and career officers are equipped with updated labour market information.
According to Mwadime, the initiative comes at a time when the global labour landscape is undergoing rapid transformation driven by digitisation, globalisation, demographic shifts, the green transition and other disruptive trends.
“New jobs are emerging, others are becoming obsolete, and workers increasingly move between education, training and employment. Career guidance is therefore indispensable in helping individuals navigate these transitions,” he said.
He called on all education and training institutions to establish fully operational career services offices and to strengthen collaboration with industry players to ensure that education outcomes align with labour market demands.
By Joseph Mambili
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
