The Principal Secretary, State Department for TVET, Dr Esther Muoria, today officially operationalized the Nyeri National Polytechnic ODeL Centre and awarded certificates to 20 trainers from the institution who successfully completed training on the ODeL Standard and the ODeL Standard Implementation Tool.
The ODeL Centre, alongside the Jitume ICT Lab, was initially launched in March 2024 by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey toward building an inclusive Digital and Creative Economy under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
The institution’s ODeL programmes are accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and are fully aligned with national ODeL standards, ensuring quality, integrity, and both national and international recognition of qualifications.
The training was facilitated by TVETA in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), targeting the capacity building of over 600 TVET trainers drawn from National Polytechnics and Special Needs TVET Institutions (SNTVETs).
Speaking during the event, Dr. Muoria emphasized that Open, Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) is a key enabler of flexible, inclusive, and accessible technical education, expanding opportunities for learners while supporting Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.
“ODeL supports the Government’s digitalization agenda through the use of Learning Management Systems, virtual classrooms, and digital learning materials,” she noted.
Representing the Ag. Director General of TVETA, Dr. Peris Njoroge, Deputy Director for Standards Development, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to quality assurance, noting that TVETA will continue to support quality audits and accreditation of ODeL Centres, programmes, and trainers using the ODeL Standard developed with support from COL.
Currently, the Cosmetology Level 7 (Higher National Diploma) programme is being offered through ODeL at Nyeri National Polytechnic, with learners utilizing e-portfolios of evidence to demonstrate competencies.
This milestone underscores TVETA’s commitment to advancing innovative, inclusive, and quality-assured TVET delivery in line with national development priorities.