The Kenya Union of Technical and Vocational Education Trainers (KUTVET) has given the Ministry of Education 21 days to address challenges affecting tutors and the delivery of technical and vocational training, warning that failure to act could trigger industrial action. The union, which represents about 7,000 TVET tutors, says it has exhausted peaceful avenues of engagement after repeated attempts to have the concerns addressed. KUTVET Secretary-General Kepher Oguwi said the union would convene to set a strike date if the Ministry does not initiate talks within the three-week period.
Curriculum Changes Raise Concern
At the centre of the dispute is the TVET curriculum, which KUTVET says requires a comprehensive review to ensure training remains relevant to industry needs. The union says the curriculum has undergone four changes in three years, creating challenges for both tutors and learners. It has called for a dedicated team of professionals from different fields within TVET to oversee curriculum development and reviews rather than repeatedly introducing major changes.
The concern comes at a time when Kenya is increasingly relying on TVET institutions to produce a skilled workforce capable of supporting industrialisation, employment and entrepreneurship.
Union Questions Examination Security
KUTVET has also raised concerns over the administration of assessments under the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) system. The union questioned the security of examination papers, particularly the transmission of some papers to institutions through email. It argues that such practices could compromise examination integrity, while some colleges reportedly receive papers late or face difficulties printing large volumes of examination papers.
The union is therefore calling for improvements in the examination process to ensure that TVET qualifications maintain credibility and that assessments accurately reflect learners’ competencies.
Medical Cover and Transfers
Beyond curriculum and examinations, KUTVET is demanding improvements to tutors’ medical cover under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund administered through the Social Health Authority (SHA). The union says some members have experienced difficulties accessing treatment because of limitations on their medical cover.
KUTVET is also seeking clearer and more transparent procedures for transferring tutors, arguing that some transfers are initiated without following established processes.
Potential Impact on TVET Training
Should the ultimatum result in industrial action, teaching, assessments and examinations in technical institutions could be disrupted. KUTVET says the issues affecting tutors ultimately have implications for the quality of training and the ability of TVET institutions to produce graduates with skills that match labour-market requirements.
The 21-day notice now places pressure on the Ministry of Education to engage the union and find solutions to the concerns before they escalate into a wider disruption of the TVET sector. For a sector expected to play a major role in Kenya’s skills development and employment agenda, resolving the dispute could be critical to maintaining uninterrupted training while strengthening the credibility and relevance of technical qualifications.