Workers prepare clothes for export at the Alltex export processing zone (EPZ) factory in Athi River. [Photo/Business Daily]
The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) now wants manufacturers’ in-house training modules recognised as skills-based practical certification programmes.
This proposal could change the way Kenya trains its workforce if fully adopted.
Under the plan, factories will be allowed to come up with training programmes based on salary levels after which qualifiers will be awarded certificates.
The move will do away with the need for those seeking skills to go to colleges while providing qualified manpower. It could also eliminate the need for internship.
The authority’s national co-ordinator for industrial attachments Henry Simiyu, has said that they are allowing companies with unique machinery to formulate training curricula that could be replicated in other industries and certification issued by NITA based on a firm’s approved salary scale, from levels 1 to 10.
Addressing a delegation of 40 Labour ministry and trade union officials from 14 African countries in Nairobi over the weekend, Simiyu said this would motivate young people to pursue learning within their work environment, which would also lead to higher salaries upon certification.
“Industries have a higher role to play to redefine the Kenyan skills development space as some workers with low academic credentials acquire more experience from their daily tasks that, if remunerated, could generate more committed and productive workers,” Simiyu is quoted by the Nation as saying.
The forum, organised by International Labour Organisation (ILO), seeks to promote quality apprenticeships as a top priority for individual African countries as it helps the youth move into decent well-paying jobs where enterprises also benefit from availability of affordable locally trained workforce.