NAIROBI, Kenya – All Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Kenya will fully adopt a Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum by January 2026, in what is being described as a landmark overhaul of the country’s skills development system.
The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ forum at Kenya Coast Polytechnic in Mombasa, where TVET principals from the Coast region were briefed on the transition roadmap.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the shift is part of a broader strategy to align Kenya’s education system with market demands and produce graduates equipped for 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,” Ogamba said. “You cannot tell me a mason must learn English just to be tested in it.”
He added that the CBET model allows learners to acquire and be certified in specific skills within as little as three months, enabling them to either join the workforce early or return later to upskill.
What CBET Means for Learners
Under the new CBET system:
- Learners can complete modular programmes at their own pace.
- Certification is granted after completing one or more specific skill sets.
- The curriculum is flexible and tailored to market needs, allowing even those with grade E to participate.
- The modular structure allows learners to stack qualifications over time — for instance, a trainee can learn bricklaying, plastering, and finishing in one term.
TVET Principal Secretary Esther Muoria described the reform as a national education revolution, noting that it opens up opportunities to all levels of students regardless of academic background.
“A student can now earn a certificate after completing one to six modules. Those capable of acquiring three skills can do so within three months,” she said.
Fast-Growing Demand for Skills-Based Learning
The CBET model was officially rolled out in public TVETs in May 2025. So far, 184 modular programmes have been approved by the TVET Authority and the Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council.
Over 7,000 trainers are already undergoing upskilling to deliver the new content.
The government hopes to increase TVET enrolment from 700,000 to 2 million by the end of the year — a push fueled by a shift in student preference from traditional university degrees to practical, marketable skills.
“Only 25 per cent of 2024 Form Four leavers will join universities this year. The remaining 75 per cent will go to TVETs,” Ogamba said. “We must prove the impact of this model so that we can secure more funding.”
TVET Authority Council member Anthony Mwangi confirmed that the full transition will be complete by January 2026, with current students gradually shifting to the new model starting November 2025.
Chief Technical Education Officer Dr Bernard Isalambo said the previous training model was too rigid and failed to recognise skill-based competence.
“We must move away from the idea that a certificate equals competence. Employers want practical skills — that is what CBET is designed to deliver,” he said.
The CBET rollout is part of a broader Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, which is expected to reach tertiary level in 2029 when the first CBC cohort transitions.
The government has also approved a Dual Training Policy, making it mandatory for TVETs to collaborate with industry players to ensure relevance and hands-on training.
With this reform, Kenya joins a growing list of countries reimagining technical training to meet the changing demands of the modern job market.
