TVET Skills Gap Exposed as Kenya Underperforms at WorldSkills Competition in France

TVET Skills Gap Exposed as Kenya Underperforms at WorldSkills Competition in France.

Kenya’s debut in the 47th WorldSkills competition held in Lyon, France, highlighted a significant skills gap between local Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs and those in developed countries.

Despite competing, none of the Kenyan participants secured a medal, reflecting the need for further development in the country’s vocational education sector.

Coinciding with the Paris Olympics, where Kenyan athletes had mixed results, the WorldSkills competition revealed the limitations in Kenya’s technical training.

The competition served as a critique of Kenya’s transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which focuses on skills development.

Although less than 20 percent of Form Four graduates qualify for university, the majority opt for TVET institutions, underlining the importance of improving vocational education.

Several African countries, including Ethiopia, Morocco, Namibia, Uganda, and South Africa, also participated but failed to win any medals.

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Kenya’s team, consisting of seven competitors, eight experts, and eight officials, participated in six categories: mechatronics, mechanical engineering (Computer-Aided Design, CAD), welding, cooking, restaurant service, and water technology.

Kenya’s Participation in Various Categories

• Mechatronics: Kenya’s duo, Claude Kimiach Chemoiwa and Joe Albert Ngigi, ranked 33rd out of 35 with 659 points. The gold medal went to China, followed by Japan and Korea.
• Mechanical Engineering CAD: Lamex Odanga Agunda represented Kenya, finishing last (29th) with 646 points. China, Korea, and the UAE took the top spots.
• Welding: Mathew Kigen ranked 36th out of 38, with Korea winning the gold, followed by China and Canada.
• Cooking: Robert Maina placed 40th out of 41 participants. China won the gold, with Korea and Chinese Taipei taking silver and bronze, respectively.
• Restaurant Service: Victoria Miriti ranked 27th out of 33. The event was won by France, with Singapore and China in second and third places.
• Water Technology: Sioyi Michelle Najala finished last (8th), with China, Singapore, and Korea leading the competition.

TVET Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. John Mugo, CEO of Zizi Afrique, stated that Kenya’s TVET sector remains overly theoretical, with trainers struggling to keep up with rapid technological advancements in the industry.

He emphasized the need for collaboration between training institutions and industries, along with trainers gaining industry experience to upskill themselves.

He noted that many TVET institutions lack global exposure and the necessary benchmarking, limiting their potential for improvement.

The absence of modern technology in training has also hindered Kenya’s ability to compete internationally. Dr. Mugo suggested a transparent selection process for participants in such global competitions to ensure the best talent represents the country.

Benefits of Participation

Despite the lack of medals for African countries, Dr. Kipkirui Langat, head of Kenya’s delegation and Director-General of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), pointed out that there are several advantages to participating in the WorldSkills competition.

He explained that the competition offers real-world career experience, encouraging students to attain high levels of professionalism, effective communication, and teamwork.

This approach helps trainees transition from education to employment while fostering independence and initiative.

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The WorldSkills methodology integrates competition into the learning process, promoting skill development, rigorous study, and mastery of international occupational standards.

Dr. Langat emphasized that the impact of WorldSkills 2024 goes beyond the event itself, as it highlighted the vital role of vocational education in shaping the future.

TVET Skills Gap Exposed as Kenya Underperforms at WorldSkills Competition in France

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