The TVET Authority Director General Dr Kipkorir Langat has challenged tutors at the Kenya Technical Trainers (KTTC) to take lead in the transformation of technical training as the country finally starts to implement the Competence Based Education and Training (CBET) and Assessment curriculum.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of 143 KTTC tutors who have undergone a two-week CBET Trainer and Assessor Development Course at the institution, the Director General told the graduates the journey towards reforming technical training has started at the institution.

The course was developed and delivered by TVET Authority. It is targeted to retool and re-orient KTTC trainers to CBET implementation in readiness for training of trainers of TVET institutions, both for pre-service and in-service.

“I am happy that KTTC is now finally able to interpret its mandate fully and has the capacity to deliver quality training expected from you. TVET Authority will walk with you in this journey until we reform our training system to be in line with demands of the labour market.”

During the function, which was also attended by Deputy Director Technical Education Bulemi Buhaha and KTTC Principal Dr Edwin Tarno, the TVETA DG told the trainers that the institution should take its space as a Centre of Excellence for technical training as well as a premier institution for research innovation.

He told the trainers that TVETA is in the process of developing the training standards and that KTTC will serve as the centre of implementing of the training.

The DG also revealed that the government is in discussion with African Union and the European Union to have KTTC act as the premier institution for training of technical trainers for the African continent as one way of taming that mass exodus of African immigrants to Europe in search of employment opportunities.

KTTC Principal Dr Edwin Tarno told his members of staff that the institution has turned as new leaf and laid on them five key things that they are expected to do so as to turn around the institution so that it can claim its rightful position.

These include adopting a new management, focusing on delivering quality training, change of attitude to teaching by embracing new procedures and re-evaluating the implementation of the ISO system. Additionally, he challenged the staff to embrace Research and Innovation so that the institution can be a depository of new knowledge in technical education and training.

“We are going to build your capacity and support you to carry our research on various areas like technical training, technical trainers, ODeL in TVET, CBET curriculum, among other areas. We will give you incentives to do research, correct data and present your research publish it in TVET journals and present it in TVET fora,” he told them.

The CBET tailored training focused and prepared the KTTC trainers on the delivery of Competence Based Education and Training (CBET) and Assessment, how they will conduct Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition; gender and inclusivity in CBET. The trainers were also taken through a session on how to integrate ICT in CBET Training and Assesment and how to conduct Internal Quality Assurance and Regulations in CBET.