Effects of Promoting Competency-Based Training on Building Solar Energy Skill Base among Electrical Engineering Trainees in Kakamega County, Kenya
Patricia Usaji Asembe, Hoseah Kiplagat & Naomi Kuto
Department of Technology Education, University of Eldoret, Kenya
Email: asembepecksy@gmail.com
Abstract: Inadequate skilled labor in the renewable energy sector, particularly in solar energy, presents a significant challenge to sustainable renewable energy achievement in Kenya. Despite the growing demand for solar energy solutions, many electrical engineering trainees lack practical competencies to meet industry needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of promoting Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) on building solar energy skill base among electrical engineering trainees in Kakamega County. Anchored on the Human Capital Theory, the study adopted a descriptive research design targeting a population of 108 electrical engineering trainees, from which a sample size of 108 respondents was selected. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Instrument validity was ensured through expert review, while reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α = 0.812), confirming internal consistency. Data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Ethical considerations such as informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation were strictly observed. Findings revealed that promoting CBET had a positive and statistically significant effect on building solar energy skill base (β = 0.270, t = 2.237, p < 0.05), with a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.464, p < 0.01). The study concluded that competency-based training enhances technical expertise, industry readiness, and employability of electrical engineering trainees. The study therefore recommended that training institutions integrate modular, practical, and industry-aligned CBET curricula, strengthen industry-academia collaboration, and expand solar energy infrastructure for training.
