Education

TVET Fees in Kenya Nearly Double Under New Modular Curriculum as Students Protest Rising Costs

A contentious debate over training fees at Kenya’s technical colleges has intensified, with student representatives and government officials presenting conflicting accounts of the actual cost burden

Kenya’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector finds itself at the center of a brewing controversy as stakeholders clash over significant fee adjustments following the implementation of a new modular curriculum system.

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Students Raise Alarm Over Doubled Tuition Costs

Geoffrey Obuoyela, chairman of the Kenya Union of Technical and Vocational Education Trainees (KUTVET), has sounded the alarm over what he describes as unsustainable fee increases at technical institutions nationwide.

According to Obuoyela, annual tuition under the modular curriculum—introduced in May 2025—has surged from approximately KSh 56,000 to KSh 105,000, representing a near-doubling of costs. These figures exclude additional expenses such as accommodation, examination fees, tools, and learning materials.

The student leader further revealed that certain specialized courses now carry total annual costs reaching KSh 400,000, a financial barrier he warns could derail course completion rates and exclude thousands of Kenyan youth from accessing critical technical skills needed for economic participation.

Government Defends Fee Structure as Reasonable

Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, Public Secretary for TVET in the Ministry of Education, has firmly rejected these claims, insisting that the new fee structure was developed through comprehensive stakeholder engagement and does not represent an increase in training costs.

“A level four will therefore be 70,000 for the two modules, so you can see, you can compare that 35,000 with the former highest, which was, call it 50,000. The second one, which is level four, the highest was 121,181. And you can compare it with 70,000,” Dr. Muoria explained during a recent statement.

The government has standardized charges at KSh 35,000 per module across all courses, a figure officials maintain is both competitive and justified given the enhanced training quality.

Modular System Promises Flexibility and Job-Ready Graduates

Dr. Muoria championed the modular approach for its ability to deliver practical, employment-focused training in condensed timeframes.

“A young person comes to school and is in the workshops and the laboratories for three months. By the time that young person is out of training in three months, they have employable skills,” she stated, emphasizing the system’s efficiency in producing market-ready graduates.

Curriculum Reform Aims to Bridge Skills Gap

The transition to modular TVET training represents Kenya’s strategic response to persistent challenges in its education-to-employment pipeline. Traditional programs often produced graduates with strong theoretical foundations but limited practical capabilities, contributing to high youth unemployment rates.

Key features of the reformed system include:

Industry-aligned training delivering hands-on skills matched to labor market demands
Flexible learning paths allowing students to complete 3-6 month modules rather than rigid multi-year programs
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) that validates informal skills acquired outside formal institutions
Phased study options enabling learners to alternate between education and employment
Specialized tracks including the Skilling for Peace initiative targeting at-risk youth

The modular framework particularly benefits government reservists, who can pause and resume training without losing progress, while pursuing credentials such as Level 6 Security Management qualifications that professionalize their roles.

Financial Accessibility Remains Core Concern

Despite government assurances, the dispute highlights ongoing tensions around educational affordability in Kenya’s TVET sector. Student representatives contend that even with modular flexibility, upfront costs remain prohibitive for low-income families, potentially undermining the system’s inclusive objectives.

As the debate continues, stakeholders across Kenya’s education landscape are watching closely to see whether the modular curriculum will fulfill its promise of accessible, quality technical training or whether cost barriers will limit its transformative potential.

The outcome of this standoff could have far-reaching implications for Kenya’s youth employment strategy and its broader economic development goals centered on building a skilled workforce.