The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) is a state corporation established under the Industrial Training (Amendment) Act of 2011. The Authority has five industrial training centres spread across the country.
NITA perpetuates industrial training in Kenya that dates back to 1925 when the native industrial training depots (NITDS) were introduced by the colonial Government. In 1959, Industrial training ordinance was enacted to regulate apprentice and indentured learners in the industry.
In 1963, the Industrial Training ordinance became the Industrial Training ACT, Cap 237 which was amended in 1971 to establish the training levy fund and the National Industrial Training Council (NITC) which had Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) as its secretariat. The DIT was in 2011 successfully transformed into The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) a semi-independent Government Agency with the National Industrial Training Board (NITB) replacing the National Industrial Training Council.
The National Industrial Training authority [NITA] is a newly established state corporation [former Directorate of Industrial Training]. It was established under the Industrial Training (Amendment) Act of 2011. Its mandate is to promote the highest standards in the quality and efficiency of Industrial Training in Kenya and ensure an adequate supply of properly trained manpower at all levels in the industry.
The Authority is headquartered in Nairobi but has Industrial Training Centres [ITCs] at Kisumu [Kisumu Industrial Training Centre], Mombasa, [Mombasa Industrial Training Centre], Athi River [Technology Development Centre]. Two other centres are stationed at our headquarters the Kenya Textile Training Institute and National Industrial and Vocational Training Centre].
The ITCs host a number of industry-oriented courses targeting workers in the formal and informal sectors. The courses include short and long programmes [proficiency courses, skill upgrading courses, artisan courses, and tailor-made courses]. The Centres provide full board accommodation, training rooms, workshops and recreational facilities.
Responsibilities of NITA
- Management and Supervisory training; Apprenticeship Training,
- Craft, Technician (Skill-Upgrading)
- Indentured learners,
- National Industrial Attachment Programmes, Curriculum development,
- Trade testing and certification,
- Inspection of training providers;
- Administration of Industrial Training Levy Fund
- Administration of the four Industrial Training Centres
Vision: A globally competitive and adequate workforce for industrial development.
Mission: To provide quality industrial training for enhanced productivity.
Mandate: Section 3A of the Industrial Training Act No. 12 of 2012 gives the Powers and functions of the Authority. The Authority is thus responsible for:
- Industrial training;
- Assessing and collecting industrial training levy and fees;
- Regulating trainers registered under section 7C of the Act
- Developing industrial training curricula;
- Integrating labour market information into skills development;
- Harmonizing curricula and certificates of competence;
- Assessing industrial training, testing occupational skills and awarding certificates including Government trade test certificates;
- Equating certificates;
- Accrediting institutions engaged in skills training for industry;
- Associating or collaborating with any other body or organization within or outside Kenya as the Board may consider desirable or appropriate and in furtherance of the purposes for which the Authority is established;
Core Values
- Quality- promote quality assured learning, credible assessment and certification that takes into consideration skills, knowledge, values and attitudes.
- Equity and access- Create opportunities for all to acquire skills throughout life, and especially for youth, women and disadvantaged groups.
- Responsiveness, relevance and adaptability- develop a high-quality skilled workforce/entrepreneur relevant to current and emerging employment market needs.
- Lifelong learning- emphasis on skill acquisition that is bankable, relevant and beneficial to the learner.
- Public-Private Partnerships- facilitate collaboration between educators and industry.
- Diversity of skills- identify, appreciate, catalogue and project the range and depth of skills.
- Dynamism and innovation- promote and reward growth by embracing change in every sector for development.
- Flexibility- enhance mobility and portability.
- Choice, competition and accountability- eliminate discrimination between private or public delivery places an emphasis made on outcomes and deliveries.
Responsibilities of NITA
- Management and Supervisory training; Apprenticeship Training,
- Craft, Technician (Skill-Upgrading)
- Indentured learners,
- National Industrial Attachment Programmes, Curriculum development,
- Trade testing and certification,
- Inspection of training providers;
- Administration of Industrial Training Levy Fund
- Administration of the five Industrial Training Centres
