TVET Trainer Shortage in Kenya Reaches 9,000 Amid Rising Enrollment.
The latest report from Kenya’s Ministry of Education reveals an acute shortage of trainers in the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, impacting the sector’s capacity to accommodate the rising enrollment in recent years. As of FY 2023/24, TVET institutions require 9,121 more trainers to meet demand.
The TVET Sub-Sector Report, released in October 2024, outlines the increase in trainer demand. Since FY 2021/22, requirements escalated from 12,066 to 16,518 trainers in FY 2023/24.
However, out of the 16,518 trainers needed in FY 2023/24, only 7,397 were in position, resulting in a shortfall of 9,121 trainers across 230 TVET institutions with a combined enrollment of 406,649 trainees.
National Polytechnics and Trainer Gaps
Kenya’s 24 national polytechnics, which collectively enroll 152,951 trainees, employ only 2,637 trainers through the Public Service Commission (PSC), leading to a shortage of 3,481 trainers.
The only Kenya School of TVET, with 4,710 trainees, has 109 trainers, leaving a deficit of 79 trainers.
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The shortage heavily affects Technical Vocational Colleges (TVCs) and Technical Training Institutes (TTIs). There are 201 TVCs and TTIs across the country, enrolling a total of 244,767 trainees.
These institutions, mostly located at the constituency level, employ 4,422 trainers under PSC, leaving a gap of 5,369 trainers.
Four special needs TVETs in Kenya, enrolling 4,221 trainees, face a trainer shortfall as well, with only 230 trainers under PSC. The institutions, including Machakos TTI for the Blind and Karen TTI for the Deaf, need an additional 192 trainers to meet requirements.
SNE TVET Funding and Development
SNE TVETs received funding of Ksh160.4 million in FY 2021/22, increasing to Ksh220 million in FY 2022/23 and then decreasing to Ksh120 million in FY 2023/24.
Enrollment increased from 3,805 in FY 2021/22 to 4,221 in FY 2023/24. Additionally, construction of hostels and workshops was completed in three institutions by FY 2021/22 and Nyangoma by FY 2022/23. The institutions received assistive devices and equipment during this period.
To address the shortage, the PSC approved the recruitment of 3,000 trainers in September 2021, adding 1,300 in FY 2022/23 and conducting interviews for 2,000 trainers in FY 2023/24.
Institutional Governing Councils have also hired 6,851 trainers, but the current trainer-to-trainee ratio remains at 1:55, which is above the World Bank’s recommended ratio of 1:25 for regular TVET and 1:10 for SNE TVET.
TVET enrollment has surged, largely due to increased funding, establishment of new institutions, and capacity expansion in existing institutions. The report shows enrollment rose from 297,505 in FY 2021/22 to 406,649 in FY 2023/24, a 36.7% increase. Factors contributing to this rise include:
- Annual capitation for eligible trainees
- Expansion of higher education loans and bursaries
- Adoption of open distance learning (ODeL)
Growth in Accredited Institutions
The number of accredited public and private TVET institutions has also increased, with 2,605 institutions recorded in FY 2023/24, up from 2,271 in FY 2021/22.
The Ministry of Education now oversees 251 institutions, with 230 operational and 21 nearing completion.
Under county governments, VTCs grew from 1,137 in FY 2021/22 to 1,281 in FY 2022/23 but declined to 1,222 in FY 2023/24 due to funding constraints.
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Private technical institutions also increased from 1,057 to 1,238, with 1,128 being TVCs and 110 VTCs, while 45 accredited TVET institutions operate within other line ministries.
The report highlights the significant challenges and growth opportunities in Kenya’s TVET sector, calling for continued investment in trainer recruitment and infrastructure to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding enrollment.
TVET Trainer Shortage in Kenya Reaches 9,000 Amid Rising Enrollment.
