Working together to support strong VET in Kenya

Professional competitions and the standard of these competitions are important drivers in the ongoing development of vocational education and training worldwide. Increasing numbers of nations are therefore joining the international WorldSkills network which makes professional competitions such as these possible, for example with the world championships of vocational skills. In October 2020 Kenya was accepted as the 84th member of the international WorldSkills community. On 6 October 2021 WorldSkills Germany and WorldSkills Kenya virtually signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to confirm their partnership.

"We are delighted that we’ll able to support Kenya in the future with developing the national WorldSkills organisation and in the ongoing development of vocational education and training," explained Hubert Romer, director and official delegate of WorldSkills Germany. "This is an equal partnership in which both parties have the chance to continuously learn from the other." Dr. Kipkirui Langat, director-general of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and director of WorldSkills Kenya confirmed: "We're pleased to be entering into this partnership because, as a government, we have joined the WorldSkills organisation to strengthen skills development in our vocational education and training sector and to help our young people to acquire the skills needed to open up opportunities for them at an international level."

Intensive continuing education and exchange programme planned

With this declaration of intent, WorldSkills Germany and the TVETA – Kenya's official representation in the WorldSkills network – are setting out how they intend to work together over the next three years on the development and expansion of a national world skills movement in Kenya and on participating in international WorldSkills competitions. The initial aim is to establish and develop the structures in the WorldSkills Kenya organisation and to develop competence teams. 

The goal is also to train skilled workers and to set up training and performance centres. Exchange programmes with Germany are also planned in order to gain a better understanding of the organisation and participation at competitions. Private sector businesses and institutions in Germany are to be recruited as sponsors. National competitions however are also planned, as is preparing trainers and competition participants for international competitions.

The first major aim is WorldSkills Kenya participating in WorldSkills Africa competitions in Namibia next year and in WorldSkills in Shanghai 2022, the next world championship of vocational skills. The focus here will be on 16 competition disciplines including mechatronics, fashion technology and tile laying. The aims, thanks to the planned support and the project funding applied for through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and other international partners, is to put in place the basic structure to support this over the long term.