About Us

The PWG is a multi-stakeholder platform that promotes collaboration and provides guidance on implementation of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) reforms in Kenya and enables sector stakeholders to network and share ideas and strategies.

As one of the leading economies in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya’s economy has grown by an average of over 5% in the past few years - driven primarily by the private sector. Despite this progress, however, Kenya's growth is not sufficient to create enough jobs for its youth, even those graduating from high school or universities. Meanwhile,  both local and foreign companies are struggling to find skilled workers. 

Within this landscape, various stakeholders met in the 1st Kenyan-German Vocational Education and Training Conference in early 2014 to discuss these conflicting problems and identify solutions and a way forward. At this forum, representatives from the private sector, public sector, development partners, training institutions and initiatives, and research institutions as well as associations realized that lots of activities were underway, but little collaboration and a general lack of coordination. It was agreed that a platform was needed to foster an exchange of information and idea and, as feasible, develop solutions together. Thus, the establishment of the Permanent Working Group on Vocational Education and Training (PWG).

PWG works in the framework of Kenyan reform processes and, in particular, the Vision 2030 Session Paper No. 14 of 2012 which identified a number of the challenges that are facing the TVET sector: curriculum issues, instruction design and assessment, management and organization, qualified trainers, inflexibility of training programs, lack of framework on linkage between training institutions and the industry, negative perception and poor image on TVET, weak coordination on quality assurance across TVET institutions domiciled in other state departments and ministries, lack of uniformity in qualifications, and low financing of TVET, among others. 

The primary focus of the PWG is to provide direct and indirect engagement to individual and member organizations to collaborate and further their work in promoting and advising on policy issues and implementation of TVET reforms in Kenya.

PWG Objectives

●     Provides a platform for exchange between the different stakeholder groups

●     Strategizes on ways to match the needs of the private sector with the public sector

●     Offers an entry point for the private sector to communicate its needs to stakeholders

●     Promotes TVET as a ticket to high-valued career pathways for young people through rebranding and hands on youth engagement 

●     Informs government of strategies, policies and best practices

●     Builds partnerships to enhance stakeholder investment