Over 87,000 trainees certified as Government releases MarchApril 2025 CBET results

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced the release of the March/April 2025 Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) assessment results for 87,904 candidates.

Ogamba says the results reflected the growing adoption and success of the CBET system under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework, marking another step in the transformation of skills development.

“This evaluation reflects the deliberate drive to align TVET with market demand. The sector is moving beyond certification towards skills capability. Let your skills speak loudly, let your innovation inspire others,” said Ogamba.

The candidates had been assessed in the latest CBET series conducted across 314 assessment centres nationwide, covering 239 qualifications across all levels, with a total of 331,759 units of competency, while the National Skills Certificate series included 18 qualifications with 968 specific competencies.

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This series marks the largest number of trainees assessed under CBET so far, with officials noting a steady upward trajectory from previous assessments.

Ogamba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making TVET a game changer on the growing number of students leaving high schools.

 “We had targeted two million trainees this year, but currently have about 700,000. We hope this progress will unlock new opportunities and partnerships, both in human and financial resources,” Ogamba stated.

The CS said the government has entered into partnerships with various ministries, including Housing, to allow for resource generation through hosting trainees at training institutions. He noted that plans are also underway to regularize and increase funding to HELB, enabling more students to access financial aid.

He further hailed the success in implementing the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, spearheaded by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).

The policy recognizes the skills of Kenyans who have not undergone formal education but have gained expertise through experience.

“RPL is about inclusivity and opportunity. It provides a pathway for workers to access formal employment, professional advancement, or further training,” said Ogamba, urging institutions to register as RPL assessment centres.

Ogamba reiterated that this policy is aligned with the Affordable Housing Programme, enabling the certification of skilled labourers for upcoming housing projects, and ultimately supporting the government’s target to increase housing supply from 50,000 to 250,000 units annually over the next five years.

He noted that assessors and trainers have been equipped with practical skills to deliver CBET effectively, while investments in technology, like the Enhanced Assessment Portal, have improved transparency and efficiency in registration, marking, and result management.

“Quality assurance is at the heart of our processes. From verifying Portfolios of Evidence to deploying monitoring officers and safeguarding our tools, every step is designed to uphold integrity,” the CS assured.

Ogamba called on youth to take advantage of government programs such as the Hustler Fund and the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, especially in areas like cybersecurity, renewable energy, AI, and automation.

“Your CBET certification is a powerful tool. It opens doors. Apply your skills with diligence and creativity. We are shaping not just futures, but the future of Kenya,” Ogamba said.

Dr Esther Muoria, Principal Secretary, State Department of TVET, highlighted CBET’s role in redefining how success is measured by competence rather than credentials. She hailed the increasing enrollment of young women in male-dominated fields, with female participation in diploma-level technical courses now at 47 percent.

“We are no longer worried about our children going to university. They now have a beautiful, viable alternative in TVET,” she said. “CBET is being embraced as a cornerstone of national development.”

Professor Hamed Ferej, Chairperson of the TVET CDACC Governing Council, pointed to an exponential increase in candidate numbers from 2,000 to over 88,000 today.

“This is the highest number we’ve assessed in a single series. The growth shows the increasing confidence the Kenyan people have in CBET,” said Ferej.

“We aim to reach the 100,000 mark in the upcoming July/August series.”

Ferej called for industry involvement in CBET assessments, noting that industry practitioners were directly engaged in validating assessments to ensure that certified skills are relevant and job-ready.

He also revealed plans to introduce partial qualification certificates, allowing trainees to enter the job market earlier based on completed units of competency, with an open pathway to return and complete remaining qualifications.