Lack of adequate skills is hampering labour productivity in the country, Labour and Skills Development CS Florence Bore has said.
Bore said the 2021 World Economic Forum Report shows that 30 per cent of the Kenya's workforce has inadequate skills, a situation that negatively affect labour productivity in the country.
“Furthermore, the report indicates that three out of ten Kenyans lack the required skills thereby reducing productivity and increasing costs of doing business in the country,” Bore said.
She spoke during her familiarisation tour in National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) Athi River, Machakos county on Tuesday.
The CS was hosted by NITA's Director General Eng Stephen Ogenga and board chairman Kamau Gachigi, among other officials.
“This is a clear indication that it’s high time we developed and implemented industry–led skills policies that will ensure that human skills development connects effectively to labour market needs,” Bore said.
“I wish to appreciate NITA for seeking partnerships with various partners such as Hyundai which saw 120 young men and women trained in automotive trade,” she said.
The CS said these skills are paramount because they not only stimulate the creation of a sustainable development system and further contribute towards transitioning the informal to normal economy.
She noted that continuous skills development was essential to address the opportunities and challenges to meet new demands, changing economies and technologies under the fourth industrial revolution that is critical in ensuring industries remain competitive in the global market.
Bore said NITA was historically known for apprenticeship skilling.
“I acknowledge recent apprenticeship programme you have been engaged in with organisations like OSHO Chemicals and urge you to bring more partners onboard to ensure the industry is fully involved and labour market information is utilised to improve on training,” Bore said.
She said in recognition of the importance of industrial training to the growth of the Kenyan economy, her ministry continues to review and formulate policies and legal frameworks in order to create favourable environment for the sector to realise its optimal potential.
Bore said the policies and frameworks were geared towards promoting training that was relevant for the industry and that contributes effectively to improved livelihoods alongside national economic growth.
She said NITA was involved in strategic training to supply globally competitive workforce.
The CS said according to 2018 UNESCO report, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) was well placed to address skills mismatch which has made it difficult for youth to find decent jobs or become self–employed.
“The report notes that TVET will need to undergo major transformation in the wake of rapid technological change and globalisation,” Bore said.
Currently, the TVET system was primarily supply oriented and the local workforce can’t match required skills for the labour market.
Bore said the need to be connected to broader growth, employment and development strategies was crucial.
“There is urgent need for all stakeholders to come together in setting standards, participating in designing training curricula and contributing to a more practical and less theoretical approach to training.”
Bore said the government has to work hand-in-hand with social partners, build policies that link skills development to today’s labour market, technology and promote trade and investment to generate more jobs for the youth.
The CS said she was proud to acknowledge NITA’s accreditation process that had given the Authority the ability to award national qualifications through recognition of prior learning.
“I'm aware of the successful RPL pilot exercise which NITA in conjunction with International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Kenya National Authority conducted in last November in several counties,” Bore said.
She said RPL enables persons to acquire formal qualifications that match their knowledge, skills, thereby contributing to improving their employability, mobility and lifelong learning.
Over the years, on the job training, informal apprenticeships and home care learning outcomes often do not come a certificate of competency recognising the knowledge, skills and experience acquired by such persons.
“Now, through RPL, it’s expected that persons in industry will acquire certification in these areas of trade. Recognition of these types of learning will result in broad benefits to the labour market, formal education and training, greater opportunities for broader development, access to jobs, career progression, fostered remuneration and generally promoted employment equity,” Bore said.
NITA assesses around 60,000 candidates through trade tests annually.
There are 40 trade areas under trade test for occupational areas ranging from building technology, electrical engineering, clothing and leather technology, motor vehicle technology and mechanical engineering.
Plans were underway to commence assessment in another thirty trade areas for which assessment guidelines have recently been developed and gazetted, the CS revealed.
