NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 27 – 25% in the classroom and 75% in the workplace. Could this training mix finally produce the job-ready young people envisioned under Kenya’s Competency Based Education (CBE) reforms?
That question framed discussions in Nairobi as government and private sector leaders met to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Kenya.
During a courtesy call at the Ministry of Labour headquarters in Nairobi, Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime, met Sharon Mosin, Swisscontact Kenya’s Country Director, along with Project Manager Jimmy Delyon, to discuss scaling up the PropelA dual apprenticeship programme.
Accredited by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), the model forms part of a broader reform agenda aimed at recalibrating TVET to better align with labour market demands.
Under the approach, trainees spend 25% of their time in classroom instruction and 75% in structured workplace placements, gaining hands-on experience alongside technical knowledge.
For years, employers have argued that many TVET graduates leave institutions with certificates but limited practical competence.
At the same time, youth unemployment remains a pressing national challenge. By co-creating curricula with industry and embedding students within companies, policymakers hope to narrow the disconnect between training and employment.
Swisscontact, working with Don Bosco Boys Town and more than 60 private sector companies, has piloted the programme as a demand-driven alternative to traditional models.
Mr Mwadime noted that stronger collaboration between industry and TVET institutions will be essential if reforms are to translate into real jobs.
Whether the 25-75 formula can be scaled nationally remains to be seen, but proponents believe it offers a pragmatic path towards a more employable generation.
