The Ministry of Education has announced a major change in graduation ceremonies for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, banning the use of traditional academic gowns.
Speaking during the 6th graduation ceremony at Nyeri National Polytechnic on April 17, 2026, TVET Principal Secretary Esther Muoria said the move is aimed at strengthening the identity of technical education in the country.
Muoria declared that future graduands will be required to wear attire that reflects their specific areas of training. She explained that the long-standing use of academic gowns has failed to showcase the diversity of skills offered in TVET institutions.
“TVET is not academic. Starting with the next graduation, we will not have gowns. Students will graduate in uniforms that match their professions,” she said.
Under the new directive, mechanics will wear overalls, chefs will graduate in culinary uniforms, and students from other technical fields will adopt industry-specific dress codes.
The PS noted that the reform is part of broader efforts by the government to reposition TVET as a practical, skills-based education pathway distinct from traditional university systems.
At the same time, Muoria highlighted the rapid growth of the sector, revealing that student enrolment has increased from 350,000 in 2022 to 850,000. To support this expansion, the government plans to recruit 1,000 additional trainers and continue retooling instructors under the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) program.
She also urged institutions to embrace financial sustainability by adopting cost-cutting measures such as solar energy and rainwater harvesting, while maximizing internal technical capacity for infrastructure development.