Advancing Learning and Innovation in TVET - Resources
UNESCO-UNEVOC Promising Practice
There is a tremendous need in Kenya, and indeed globally, to prepare youth for new economic opportunities by improving their skills, employability, industry competitiveness and capacity for innovation. Recognizing this need, Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) decided to prioritize investments in innovation and focused on an area that is often overlooked in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector.
There is a growing consensus that encouraging innovation among youth in TVET significantly increases their capacity to solve societal problems and prepare for an unpredictable future. However, one key hindrance is often the lack of funds to commercialize innovations or even develop the initial idea to its full capacity. As a means of incentivizing innovative thinking, RVTTI developed the Innovation Awards in 2015.
THE STANDARD
OPINION
In Kenya, about one in every three people under 35 is unable to find a job despite actively seeking work. This challenge is exacerbated by the 1.7 million jobs estimated to be lost as a result of lockdowns and restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Youth unemployment and underemployment have been majors issue in Kenya. Policymakers and stakeholders have invested in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, anticipating that the increase in skill acquisition will result in access to gainful employment. Unfortunately, a recent literature review found that only three out of nine rigorous evaluations of TVET programmes show some positive effect on employment outcomes. This research shows that on average, skills training programmes increase employment by only 2.6 per cent – a much lower result than the 10x- or higher rates that policymakers expected.