State Department of Labour Rolls Out Trade Test Exams for 21,582 students in TVTCs.
The State Department of Labour and Skills Development has launched the 2025 Trade Test Exams across 483 Technical Vocational Training Centres (TVTCs) in Kenya, targeting a total of 21,582 students this April. This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to equip the youth with employable skills through vocational training.
The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) emphasized that the Trade Test Exams serve as a government tool to boost youth employment by validating the skills obtained in TVTCs. NITA conducts these exams three times annually—in April, August, and December—with around 150,000 trainees participating every year.
NITA Chair Aden Ali Noor highlighted that the current series covers 43 skill areas including plumbing, carpentry, electrical installation, and motor vehicle mechanics. He explained that the certificates awarded are accredited in the United Kingdom and are internationally recognized, enhancing the employability of graduates globally.
During the official launch at Dzitsoni Technical Vocational Training Centre in Kilifi, Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime, said the exams would not only benefit enrolled students but also individuals with informal work experience. These individuals, who may not have attended TVTCs but have acquired practical skills on the job, are eligible to sit for the Trade Test and obtain certification.
The PS clarified that the exams are predominantly practical, with theory accounting for only 10 percent, ensuring that assessments truly reflect the candidates’ hands-on competencies.
“As you know these exams are practical, theory is only 10% and from the practicals, students will be tested on the skills they have pursued but apart from that those who possess experience and skills through the jobs they do will be issued with certificates after being administered with the Trade Test Exams,” he said.
Labour Attaché Deployment to Protect Migrant Workers
To safeguard Kenyan workers abroad, Mwadime noted that the government had entered into bilateral labour agreements with various countries and was in the process of deploying Labour Attachees. These officials would be responsible for tracking Kenyan employees overseas, monitoring their welfare, and ensuring adherence to labour laws.
He attributed the success of countries like the Philippines to the active role of their Labour Attachees and said Kenya would now follow a similar path with the support of the Parliamentary Labour Committee.
Mwadime also issued a stern warning to unlicensed and fraudulent employment and travel agencies. The department had already revoked 500 licenses due to suspected malpractice and ongoing investigations. A rigorous vetting process has been initiated, requiring directors—not just general managers—of all employment agencies to appear in person before the vetting panel.
The PS assured that collaboration with security agencies was strengthening enforcement efforts and that more deregistrations were expected as investigations continued.
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Kilifi South MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Committee, Ken Chonga, urged the youth to move past the outdated notion that Technical Vocational Training Centres are only for academic underachievers. He encouraged young people to pursue vocational skills as a pathway to self-reliance and prosperity.
In Kilifi County alone, only 7,000 students have enrolled in TVTCs so far, falling short of the 40,000 enrollment target set by the county government. The MP stressed the need to motivate more youth to take advantage of the opportunities provided by technical training.
As Kenya ramps up its efforts to provide skills-based education, the State Department of Labour’s Trade Test initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and employment. With increasing global recognition of vocational qualifications, young Kenyans are being encouraged to seek practical skills that open doors both locally and internationally.
State Department of Labour Rolls Out Trade Test Exams for 21,582 students in TVTCs.
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