The Trade Testing exercise isn’t just an evaluation, but an opportunity to empower our workforce, Labour and Social Protection CS Florence Bore has said.
Bore said trade testing fosters a robust and dynamic industrial sector which is the country’s economic backbone.
“We are gathering here not only to assess but recognize and certify the skills and knowledge of our industrious candidates across various trades and fields,” Bore said.
She spoke while presiding over the launching December series of Government Trade Tests at Mabati Technical Training Institute in Mariakani in Kilifi County on Wednesday.
The CS was hosted by National Industrial Training Authority acting director general Theresiah Wasike and board chairman Aden Noor Ali.
“The value of this exercise extends far beyond the immediate scope, offering numerous benefits to both the workers and employers in our industry. Among the myriad advantages of this exercise is the effective utilization of resources, due to enhanced and certified skills that reduce wastage,” Bore said.
The tests are being conducted in all NITA-accredited training institutions nationally across the 47 counties.
38, 882 candidates according to Wasike are participating in the tests covering 43 diverse trade areas that include Automotive, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Cosmetology, Garment-Making, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.
“As a country, we must come together to ensure that we impart the appropriate skills through our training programmes. This is essential to harness the immense demographic dividend from our youth bubble,” Bore said.
“We anticipate improved productivity stemming from the enhanced self-esteem of our trainees, which in turn leads to faster output and minimal disturbance in skill transfer. This exercise will also open up improved chances of promotions for those who despite lacking formal training, have acquired necessary trade skills,” Bore said.
Bore said by sitting the National Trade Test and obtaining a National Trade Certificate, such people gain formal recognition for their hard-earned expertise.
She said as the government strives to realize the ambitious bottom-up economic transformation agenda, the country is faced with a critical challenge – the skills gap in our workforce.
“The 2018 World Economic Forum report highlights that per cent of our workforce is grappling with inadequate skills, a situation that is hampering labour productivity and escalating the cost of doing business in the country. This is a clarion call for us to develop and implement industry-led skills policies that are in sync with the labour market needs. NITA stands at the forefront of this endeavour,” Bore said.
“Your role isn’t just to train, but to ensure that our workforce is well-equipped with the necessary skills and expertise to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy,” Bore said.
The CS said the country needed to produce individuals who aren’t only competent, but innovative and excellent in their respective fields in today’s competitive world where the value of skilled labour is at a premium.
She said the Trade Test was designed to identify and recognize the skills and abilities of our workforce, certifying their competencies and establishing a standard of quality across industries.
“The primary objective of the Government Trade Test is to ensure that our workforce is well-trained, skilled, and capable of meeting the dynamic demands of our economy. By providing certification to skilled workers, we are doing more than acknowledging their abilities,” Bore said.
Bore added;
“We are instilling confidence among employers about the quality of services rendered. This certification is a stepping stone to enhancing employability, job security, and mobility for our workers, thus paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous society.”
She said President William Ruto’s administration remains committed to fostering a globally competitive, responsive, and adaptive workforce through skills development programs that adequately respond to current and future skills demands of the industry.
“In an era where unemployment, vulnerability, poverty, and inequalities are high the labour sector has become increasingly critical in our development process. Labour ministries around the world, including ours are looked upon to provide innovative solutions to unemployment and address emerging issues facing workers, employers, and governments. Our initiatives towards skills development, especially in such time are geared towards ensuring that the education and training sector is responsive, dynamic, and trusted,” Bore said.
Bore said they aim to deliver an excellent standard of training to enhance skills and competencies for improved productivity, competitiveness, and employability.
She said this will in turn contribute to the realization of our national goal which is ‘uplifting livelihoods of the Kenyan citizenry’.
“I am proud to acknowledge NITA’s efforts in the implementation of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and the recent assessment of construction workers at the Kibera and Ruiru Affordable Housing projects(AHP),” Bore said.
