The Nyeri National Polytechnic has been granted the Qualification Awarding Institution Certification (QAI) by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), allowing it to independently train, evaluate, and award certificates to students.
This certification is similar to a university charter and enables the polytechnic to design Competency-Based Education and Training Curriculum (CBET), which can be used by other vocational training institutions to instruct and assess students.
With the QAI, the polytechnic can also certify students who previously possessed government trade certificates.
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Dr Esther Muoria, Principal Secretary for Technical, Vocational Education and Training, described this as a game changer in vocational training during the award ceremony in Nyeri.
The Nyeri National Polytechnic is the third institution in the country to receive the certification, with Meru and Kenya Coast National polytechnics having received theirs in March of this year.
Her department is collaborating with other national polytechnics to ensure that they all receive their QAI.
Dr Muoria stated that the Nyeri National Polytechnic has developed a range of qualifications and skill sets that they will train and award certificates for, indicating that the other institutions can also offer the same qualifications but issue certificates from the Nyeri National Polytechnic when their students graduate.
The certified polytechnics continue to develop these qualifications, which will be offered throughout the country, she added.
Alice Kande, Acting Director General of KNQA, who spoke during the ceremony, stated that the agency will ensure that the qualifications provided by the TVETs meet the requirements of the Kenya National Qualification Framework.
She also said that KNQA was dedicated to ensuring that the qualifications offered are globally competitive and that those who graduate can obtain employment anywhere in the world.
The Nyeri National Polytechnic’s Principal, Mr David Mwangi, stated that the qualification certification would help TVETs shift from technology-based curricula to skill-based curricula.
TVETs have been criticized in the past for infringing on the university model by being too theoretical and failing to provide adequate practical experience to learners.
Mwangi stated that the polytechnic has already designed 19 CBET level V and level VI curriculums, with each level enrolling students.
Additionally, they have created 72 other curriculums, 32 of which provide exemptions to students who have prior training in their area of expertise.
Mwangi said the awarding of the certificate opens doors for those with technical skills but no certification.
Furthermore, the polytechnic is inviting the industry and the Jua kali sector to know that they can be certified where they have skills but lack certification in 32 areas recognized for prior learning.
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