Kenya has entered into a strategic partnership with the French government, primarily through the Agence Française de Development (AFD), to support the digitization and modernization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers, during a ceremony held at the Kenya School of TVETS.

This initiative is part of a broader “Team Europe” effort to enhance digital skills, infrastructure, and pedagogical methods in Kenyan vocational training institutions.

Speaking during the Signing ceremony of the Project of digitization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers in Kenya the Cabinet Secretary of Education Julius Ogamba welcomed the partnership saying that the youth bulge in Kenya has made it paramount for the government to upscale intake of students in TVET training institutions in Kenya.

“For the first time almost 26% of Students who were selected to join Universities have opted to join TVET training Centers, which is a positive mark for the development of much needed skills in Kenya labor workforce,” said CS Ogamba. The CS added that “Government of Kenya has embarked on recruiting 1000 more trainers this month and another same amount in July to cater for the big numbers of learners joining TVET Centers”

The Cabinet secretary welcomed very much the support from French Government through AFD, the German Development agency GIZ and European Union in the Digitization of TVETs centers in Kenya saying that its only through digitization that there can be synchronization of offering world class training for the requisite labor force for today’s Kenya’s needs.

On her Part H.E Eleonore Caroit France Minister Delegate for Francophone, International Partnerships said digitalization of TVET centres is supported by over €70 million in Team Europe funding, which leverages contributions from the French Development Agency (AFD) and German development finance institutions.

“Key project within this partnership, UDIP, focuses on reforming curricula in priority fields such as mechanical, electrical, and biomedical engineering to better align with the needs of the Kenyan market,” said H.E Caroit

GIZ representative also a partner in the Project said the program involves training which includes the donation of equipment and the integration of new technologies, such as 3D printing and industrial automation, into the curriculum.