Gov’t targets 2 million youths for TVET enrolment by year-end

The government is targeting two million young people for enrolment in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions by the end of 2026 as it steps up efforts to equip youths with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

Speaking at Coast National Polytechnic in Mombasa, Technical and Vocational Education and Training Principal Secretary Dr Esther Muoria said the government would work with National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to mobilise young people to enrol in technical institutions.

Muoria said the initiative was intended to prepare young people for emerging employment opportunities, particularly those linked to government-backed development projects in the Coast region.

The mobilisation drive is expected to encourage more youths to pursue practical training that can improve their access to employment and other economic opportunities.

Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Jacob Fikirini urged young people to take advantage of TVET programmes, saying technical training could strengthen their employability and help them achieve economic independence.

Mombasa County Commissioner Mohamed Nur said government departments would work together to increase enrolment in technical institutions, pointing to skills development and improved livelihood opportunities as part of broader efforts to address youth unemployment and reduce crime.

The initiative places technical and vocational training at the centre of efforts to prepare young people for the labour market, as demand grows for skills relevant to different sectors of the economy.

However, the scale of the enrolment target also raises questions about the capacity of training institutions to accommodate additional students, the availability of instructors and equipment, and the link between courses offered and actual employment opportunities.

Further details on the implementation timeline, the distribution of the enrolment target across institutions and the mechanisms for tracking graduates’ employment outcomes would help establish how the initiative will translate into tangible opportunities for young people.