The Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof. George Magoha today launched the National Communication and Advocacy Strategy that will that will help in the rebranding and repositioning of TVET in Kenya.
The blue-print is well thought out communications and advocacy strategy will ensure that both communication and advocacy approaches focusing on the TVET sub-sector in Kenya are executed in a sustained, coordinated and organised manner. This will help in shifting public perception as well as social and cultural attitudes about vocational training and the benefits thereof.
In a speech read by the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Education, Hon. Hassan Noor Hassan, Prof. George Magoha said that the strategy will create youth aspirations in TVET training and change the narrative about the negative perception about TVET.
The CS noted that the greatest challenges facing governments and its policy makers in Africa is how to provide opportunities for the continent’s 200 million young people who are at the core of what makes a society.
“The pandemic has necessitated enhancement of access to information among the youth to capitalize on the global trend on utilization of online platforms to deliver services,” he said in his speech.
He said that technology, particularly ICT has played a central role to young people’s rise to prominence at the global scale. “Increase participation in decision making processes among the youth. Young people are pioneering use of ICT driving trends in what is dynamic and a major growth industry. They are using ICT to inspire communities to change the world in a positive way.”
The launch at a Nairobi hotel was also attended by the Principal Secretary State Department VTT Dr. Margaret Mwakima, TVETA DG. Dr. Kipkirui Lang’at, Brenda Odallo co-chair Joint Sub-Sector Working Group (JSSWG), Nimrod Maina of Tova International, Ndung’u Kahihu- CAPYEI, Glory Mutungi, Chairperson KATTI and Nyamai Wambua, Head of Programmes, Jua Kali Association.
The PS Dr. Margaret Mwakima in her speech said that there is a need to not only rebrand the sector, but also reposition TVET in Kenya and streamline all communication and advocacy approaches so that the youth and Kenyans can be able to appreciate what the government has done towards manufacturing and industrializing.
The PS stated that the overall goal for developing this strategy is to have in place a single referral document that provides a roadmap for ensuring effective communication at all engagement levels.