New institute to offer maritime courses to boost blue economy

For years, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) have been grappling with an array of challenges that inhibited their positive impact on the needs of a changing education, industrial ecosystem and job market needs.

Then, Government policies paid little attention to these institutions, leaving them to their own devices.
In the end, the accumulative years of neglect snowballed and started to crack underneath and later exposing the soft underbelly of a sector that if had been accorded the attention it long deserved, would have taken the industries of this beautiful country to unparalleled levels.

But all is not lost for every dark cloud has a silver lining. The government, through the Ministry of Education, recently embarked on deliberate research for gap analysis and needs assessment with a view to developing harmonisation standards in these institutions.

The report came up with solutions that are now being thoroughly and meticulously implemented to the letter. The most glaring gaps that had continued to bedevil TVET sector included a fragmented ecological system, negligible certification among the informal workforce otherwise known as the jua kali sector, limited adoption of technology and a negative perception among the young people about TVET.

All this is changing now as the government moves towards reforming the sector by roping in a new Competency -Based Education Training (CBET) to give a much-needed shot in the arm to once fledgling institutions unsure about the future.

Increase access

CBET’s breath of fresh air responds to the current needs of the everchanging labour market and the fast evolution of technology swiftly sweeping across the world.

To further ground CBET, other players have duly taken the mantle in ensuring TVET is headed to the right direction. The East African Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project, an initiative of the World Bank and African governments, including Kenya, aims to increase access and improve the quality of TVET programmes in selected centres of excellence, such as Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, formerly Mombasa Technical Training Institute.

The project funds the ongoing construction of KCNP’s Maritime Centre in Kwale. Architect Caleb Mong’are, who manages the constructions, says they are on course and will beat the deadline in time to hand over the project to the institution.

EASTRIP’s top objectives and outcomes are to increase access to TVET programmes by focusing on an unprecedented student enrolment at regional TVET, support regional integration by developing qualifications that are bilaterally and regionally recognised and increase the quality and relevance of TVET programmes, as well as develop digital skills.

Soon, students will be learning online and offline depending on where they are. The trailblazing KCNP has worked hard to cut a coveted niche for itself as one of the leading TVET institutions in the country and entire region.

The undisputed leader has been churning out hundreds of skilled graduates in hospitality, tourism management and Marine industry and Blue Economy.

“We want to sensitise the public and showcase TVET as driver of the national socio-economic goals as enshrined in Vision 2030, bottom-up economic model and the National Education Sector Strategic Plan (NESSP),” says Kevin Ochieng of KCNP’s EASTRIP department.

The digital market campaign to rebrand TVET, champion skills development, create awareness among the youth and sensitise the public on each of the disciplines offered by the five RFTIs.

Institute has already tendered for and received most of the Maritime Centre training equipment, including a boat and a simulation machine, which are safely stored in the institution awaiting completion centre.

Training equipment

KCNP Deputy Principal Jane Kariuki is elated about the new developments in TVET sector. She says her institution is ready and has already rolled out retraining and retooling of her tutors and management of the institute.

“We are not yet finished with the training and recruitment of more tutors to allow us enough and quality trainers for our more than 7,500 students,” Kariuki says.

She is of the opinion that retooling has built the capacity of trainers to roll out a massive pre-service and in-serving training programmes for all tutors in tandem with CBET.

EASTRIP National Coordinator Nelson Gitau says the main objective of the project at KCNP is to develop competent graduates for the maritime sector, adding that each of the country’s five RFTIs has its training strength.

“Project focuses on the blue economy in line with the government ‘s Blue Economy concept whose primary concern is to ensure there is unparalleled promotion of economic growth, social inclusion and preservation of livelihood and environmental sustainability in the coastline among other pertinent issues associated with this important sector,” he says.

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