Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

The Government has initiated plans to establish a comprehensive qualifications database to address the pervasive issue of counterfeit credentials.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary, Dr Esther Muoria says a comprehensive database will ensure that opportunities are granted solely to those individuals who possess verifiable evidence of their competence and merit.

According to the PS, this stride represents a collective commitment to swiftly and decisively eliminate the detrimental influence of fraudulent certificates once and for all.

“As a nation, should we fail to provide for objective qualifications and skilling, we would be inadvertently laying the groundwork for eventual collapse of our country. It is with appreciation that I extend my recognition to all dedicated individuals who tirelessly endeavor to uphold the integrity of our academic and qualifications systems,” she says.

She made the remarks during a meeting for the Kenyan National Qualifications Council (KNQA) to review its Strategic Plan. The PS says that the KNQA’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, should ascertain, upon implementation, that it captures both the current and future academic and qualifications scenario.

“Foregrounding lifelong learning, skills development and emphasizing mechanisms will ensure quality and relevant qualifications are key indicators that this plan is not only up to date but also revolutionary,” Muoria states.

 She insists that the success of the country in many fronts lies in the meticulous alignment of individual aspirations, organizational goals, and societal needs. “By carefully assessing the current and future skills requirements, we can chart a course that optimizes opportunities that will ultimately drive sustainable growth and competitiveness,” she adds.

 This, however, she says calls for thorough research, forecasting future industry needs and trends and engaging in a continuous dialogue with stakeholders to identify emerging skill gaps and evolving demands. She challenged KNQA to re-focus their strategies to deliver on its critical mandate of ensuring that the country has globally competitive and relevant qualifications that will transform the individual, the society and the country.

KNQA meeting sought to re-visit its vision and purpose not only in the qualifications landscape but also in the education and training sectors. “We are currently at an age where flexibility, innovation, and execution matter much more than decades-old qualifications or work experiences. Soon we will remember with nostalgia the days when people carried laminated heaps of certificates to interviews,” she notes. She says that the market is no longer about degrees alone but also attitudes, intrapersonal skills and to a large extent, soft skills.