Students graduating from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions will no longer wear traditional academic gowns during their graduation ceremonies.

Education Principal Secretary in charge of TVET, Esther Muoria, announced the directive on Friday, April 18, stating that all institutions must now adopt attire that reflects students’ specific areas of training.

Under the new guidelines, graduands will wear professional outfits aligned with their disciplines. Mechanics will don overalls, chefs will appear in full culinary gear, while other trainees will graduate in uniforms suited to their respective fields.

According to Muoria, the shift is aimed at reinforcing the practical identity of TVET institutions and making graduates easily identifiable by their skills.

“Going forward, we are not going to be graduating our graduates in gowns like we have been doing. Gowns are academic, and we are technical,” she said.

She added, “Graduands in the different technical departments will henceforth graduate in their respective work attire. Mechanics will wear overalls, and chefs will wear the chef’s uniform.”

Muoria noted that the long-standing tradition of black graduation gowns, largely borrowed from universities, does not accurately represent the hands-on, skills-based training offered in TVET institutions.

The announcement was made during a graduation ceremony at Nyeri National Polytechnic, where the PS also outlined broader reforms in the sector.

Beyond the dress code changes, the government plans to modernise TVET infrastructure, equip institutions with updated training tools, and expand staffing levels to match rising enrolment.

Student numbers in TVET institutions have grown significantly, from 350,000 in 2022 to 850,000 currently. To address this surge, Muoria revealed that the State will recruit an additional 1,000 trainers this year.