Education Ministry To Review University Courses Ahead Of CBET Implementation

The State Department for Higher Education has opened two tenders inviting consultants to assess how far Kenyan universities have come in shifting to Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) and whether their academic programs measure up.

The notices, published Tuesday, September 22, split the work into two strands. One consultant will dig into university programs, checking whether courses are built around competencies and hands-on skills rather than the old lecture-and-exam mold.

That means looking at learning outcomes and, more importantly, whether graduates are walking away with the kind of practical abilities employers say they need. Where programs fall short, the consultant will also be expected to recommend fixes to bring them in line with CBET standards.

The second tender takes a broader view, focusing on implementation rather than curriculum. Here, the goal is to gauge how far public and private universities have actually moved away from the old system not just on paper, but in practice.

That includes tallying how many institutions have begun rolling out CBET, checking whether lecturers have been adequately prepared for the shift, and assessing whether campuses have the physical and technical infrastructure the new model demands.

Bidders have until October 6 to submit their proposals for either opening. As with most government tenders, the paperwork requirements are strict: a Certificate of Incorporation, a current Tax Compliance Certificate from KRA, and a properly completed and signed Form of Tender are all non-negotiable.

The timing isn’t accidental. These evaluations land just three months ahead of the planned CBET rollout in universities, which the government has pencilled in for December 2026, with the transition expected to run its full course by 2029.

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