Stakeholders at the launch of Kenya’s National Dual Training Policy at Kiambu National Polytechnic on November 7, 2025. On that day, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba officially launched the TVET Dual Training Policy, a landmark initiative aimed at bridging the gap between classroom learning and workplace experience. This new policy formalizes a “dual” training model in which technical and vocational students split their time between college-based instruction and real-world industry training. The goal is to ensure that graduates acquire practical skills aligned with labor market needs, graduating “ready for employment or entrepreneurship”, as CS Ogamba remarked during the launch. By integrating training institutions with employers, the dual training policy seeks to make technical education more relevant, competency-based, and future-focused, ultimately producing a globally competitive workforce for Kenya

What the Dual Training Policy Entails (Goals and Framework)

The National Dual Training Policy establishes a structured framework to blend classroom learning with hands-on industry experience. In practice, this means TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) students will divide their learning between college courses and on-the-job training in partner industries. The policy’s key components and goals include:

Integrated Learning Model: Students gain theoretical knowledge in training centers and practical skills in actual workplaces, combining “the best of both worlds” of education and work experience. This dual approach directly aligns training with real job requirements, bridging the perennial gap between graduates’ skills and employers’ needs.

Competency-Based Education: The policy is a pillar of Kenya’s Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) reforms. It prioritizes skills over paper qualifications, emphasizing demonstrated competence and hands-on ability over theory alone “Learning thrives where theory meets practice, classrooms meet workplaces, and young people gain experience and confidence that lead to meaningful employment,” CS Ogamba noted, underscoring the policy’s focus on practical learning.

Curriculum Aligned with Industry: Under the dual training framework, employers become co-architects of training. Industry partners will help design curricula, provide modern tools and environments for learning, mentor trainees, and even assist in assessing students’ competencies. This ensures that the content of TVET courses stays up-to-date with technological advances and market trends.

Quality and Standards: The government, through the Ministry of Education and agencies like TVETA, will serve as an enabler and guarantor of standardsThe policy provides guidance to institutions and employers on delivering structured work-based learning and maintaining uniform quality benchmarks nationwide By formalizing standards for apprenticeships and training partnerships, Kenya is positioning itself as a leader in demand-driven skills development in Africa

The Dual Training Policy was developed by the Ministry’s State Department for TVET with support from development partners, drawing inspiration from global best practices In fact, its formulation was supported by the Promotion of Youth Employment and Vocational Training Programme, a project jointly financed by the Governments of Finland and Germany and implemented by GIZ The Cabinet approved the policy in January 2025, paving the way for nationwide rollout As a result, Kenya now joins a handful of African nations formalizing dual training, signaling a bold shift towards an education system that is practical, relevant, and closely linked to the real economy

Implementation Strategies and Plans

With the policy in place, the focus shifts to implementation by government and TVET institutions. CS Ogamba emphasized that the launch “is not just a milestone, it is a national commitment” to reform education delivery Key implementation strategies include:

Institution-Industry Partnerships: TVET colleges are forging deeper collaborations with employers across all sectors. Through formal agreements, companies will host students as apprentices or interns and open their doors as training sites. Many institutions have already piloted this model  for example, Kiambu National Polytechnic (KINAP) began a dual training program with just 20 students in 2020 and scaled up to 337 students by 2025 in fields like industrial mechatronics, hospitality, and automotive Such pilots have shown success: one company even hesitated to release trainees for exams because the students had become “invaluable” after installing a critical system that the firm depended on. Going forward, the government aims to replicate these successes nationwide, so that what started in a few colleges expands to all willing TVET institutions.

Curriculum and Trainer Reforms: The government is involving industry experts in revamping curricula to ensure courses meet current industry standards. Employers will actively participate in designing “forward-looking curricula” under the new policy. Additionally, trainers in TVET institutions are being upskilled through partnerships – for instance, Finnish institutions have partnered with Kenyan colleges to exchange knowledge on modern teaching techniques and green skills. This continuous capacity building for instructors will help embed the dual training approach into daily teaching and assessment.

Policy Guidance and Oversight: The Ministry of Education, alongside bodies like the TVET Authority, will oversee the structured rollout. The Dual Training Policy document itself serves as a guidebook for colleges and employers on how to structure programs, how long students should train on-site, how to evaluate work-based learning, and how to maintain quality standards. Regular monitoring and evaluation are expected to ensure training quality is standardized and stays aligned with evolving market needs. The government is also encouraging more industries to join the program, signaling that employers are “not guests in our skilling ecosystem, they are co-architects” in shaping real-world learning experiences

Resource Support: To facilitate implementation, authorities are enhancing support for TVET learners. The policy launch comes alongside increased funding for students through schemes like the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). Recently, HELB released Ksh 441 million in upkeep loans to support over 54,000 TVET college students – part of a total of Ksh 3.47 billion allocated to more than 126,000 TVET learners this year. Such financial commitments ensure that as dual training opportunities expand, students can afford to enroll and participate fully. The Dual Training Policy’s development partners (Finland, Germany, GIZ) may also continue providing technical assistance during the implementation phase, helping Kenyan institutions adopt best practices from established dual training systems abroad.