Kaelo Technical and Vocational College (TVC) in Laare, Igembe North Constituency, Meru County, is set to hold its inaugural graduation ceremony on September 25, with more than 400 graduands expected to receive certificates and diplomas. The graduation, which will be presided over by TVET Principal Secretary Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, marks a major milestone for the institution, which was established in 2018 and has grown from a small training centre to an institution with an enrolment of about 1,500 students.
Kaelo TVC Principal Joseph Kimathi said the graduation will provide an opportunity to showcase the institution’s contribution to skills development and youth employment.
Enrolment Rises After CBET Adoption
Kimathi attributed the sharp increase in student numbers partly to growing awareness of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and the adoption of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET). He said enrolment has increased from about 300 students in 2023 to nearly 1,500 currently, with admissions still ongoing.
“When we introduced CBET, the perception and uptake of TVET started changing. Our enrolment has risen from about 300 students in 2023 to the current population of about 1,500 and admissions are still ongoing,” he said.
The institution offers programmes in business studies, human resource management, mechanical production, automotive engineering, electrical and electronics, agriculture, cosmetology, fashion and design, environmental studies and ICT.
Trainees Gain Experience Through Real Projects
Kaelo TVC has adopted a practical training model that gives students opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real projects within the institution. Kimathi said the college deliberately allows trainees to undertake some works that would traditionally be outsourced, including construction and other technical assignments.
“Where we have work that our trainees can do, we give them the opportunity instead of bringing people from outside. This enables them to practice their skills, gain experience and build confidence that they can actually do the work when they leave the institution,” he said.
The approach is intended to help students develop practical skills, teamwork and problem-solving abilities while preparing them for employment and self-employment.
College Develops Automotive Production Centre
The institution has also positioned itself as a centre of excellence in mechanical production, following assessment and registration by the Kenya Motor Vehicle Repairers Association. The college is preparing to establish a garage and workshop where government and privately owned vehicles from Igembe and neighbouring areas can be serviced and repaired. Kaelo has also established satellite garages in Laare and Maua, which will serve both as service centres and practical training facilities. Kimathi said the government’s directive requiring government vehicles to be serviced through TVET institutions could provide an additional revenue stream for the college while giving trainees opportunities to gain hands-on experience.
TVET Moves Towards Production
Beyond training, Kaelo TVC has established income-generating activities including dairy farming and miraa production, with the institution seeking to strengthen its capacity to generate income and expose trainees to enterprise. The college’s growing student population has also contributed to economic activity around the institution, particularly through increased demand for accommodation, food and other services.
Shortage of Trainers and Infrastructure
Despite its growth, the institution continues to face challenges, including inadequate workshops, infrastructure and trainers. Kaelo currently has approximately 40 trainers, of whom 25 are employed by the Public Service Commission while the remainder are employed by the Board of Management.
Kimathi said the institution recently received 10 additional trainers through government recruitment, but more are still required because of the growing student population. He called for increased government investment to expand workshops, improve infrastructure and recruit additional trainers. The institution has also received support from the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) through bursaries, construction of a perimeter wall and a gate, among other projects.
TVET Institutions Build Pathways to Employment
Kaelo TVC works with several government agencies and institutions, including the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), TVET Authority, Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC) and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS). As the institution prepares to graduate its first cohort, its leadership says the growth demonstrates the increasing role of technical skills in addressing unemployment and supporting economic development. Kimathi urged young people to consider vocational training as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
“Skills are the way to go if we are to achieve our development aspirations and prepare our young people for the future,” he said.
The inaugural graduation will bring together government officials, education stakeholders, industry representatives, parents, guardians and members of the community to celebrate the institution’s first graduating cohort.