Training for the telecoms industry-challenges and the way forward

The paper begins by giving various indicators on the status of telecommunications in Kenya. The indicators show that telecommunication industry is relatively small. In order to further develop the industry an important factor to be considered is the development of human resources within organizations offering the service. The major organization offering telecoms service in Kenya is Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC). KPTC´s experience in human resource development (HRD) is therefore discussed and strategies to overcome teething obstacles in the said development explored. The effects of liberalization of non-strategic segment of the telecom service in the country on training are highlighted as are the implications of restructuring of KPTC into three entities-a telecoms company, a government owned postal corporation and a public regulatory communications commission. The establishment of Kenya College of Communications Technology (KCCT) as an autonomous training institution with a mission to have training play a major role in development of telecoms is discussed. Using KCCT as an example, the paper explores the types of problems that may be encountered by telecoms training centres (TTC) in their efforts to ensure that their training programs have the required impact