The cabinet yesterday approved upgrading of 13 Technical and Vocational Colleges to National Polytechnic status in a bid to establish at least one National Polytechnic in each County, now bringing the total number of National Polytechnics in the country to 24.
The resolution which is contained in the August 29, 2023 dispatch came from an inaugural cabinet meeting which was held outside Nairobi chaired by President William Ruto at the Kakamega State Lodge, which further stated the upgrading is in line with the government policy of ensuring at least one National Polytechnic in every county.
“To further enhance access to higher education through a balanced institutional framework, Cabinet further considered and approved the upgrading of thirteen (13) Technical and Vocational Colleges to National Polytechnic status,” reads the yesterday’s cabinet dispatch.
“The action by Cabinet is pursuant to the principles set out in Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2005: A Framework for Education, Training and Research; which establishes a pathway for upward mobility of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.
The Policy framework also requires the establishment of at least one National Polytechnic in each County, and a TVET institution in each constituency,” it added.
The elevated institutions to National Polytechnic status are: Maasai Technical Training Institute, Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology, Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology and Coast Institute of Technology.
Others are Tseikuru Technical and Training College, Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology, Bureti Technical Vocational College, Jeremiah Nyagah Technical Training Institute, Mawego Technical Training Institute, and Baringo Technical Training Institute.
The 13 elevated institutions now join Kabete National Polytechnic, Meru National Polytechnic, Eldoret National Polytechnic, Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, Kisumu National Polytechnic, Kitale National Polytechnic, Nyeri National Polytechnic, Sigalagala National Polytechnic, North Eastern National Polytechnic, Kisii National Polytechnic, and the recently upgraded Nyandarua National Polytechnic from Nyandarua Institute of Science and Technology.
The cabinet further resolved to remove the national ID requirement for students applying for higher education loans for the placement of the 2023/2024 student , with the Ministry of Education being directed to jointly with all stakeholders to fast-track access to scholarships for all the eligible students who are due to report to institutions of higher learning.
“Cabinet waived the requirement for national identity cards for students who have not attained the age of 18, and further directed the Ministry of Education, jointly with all stakeholders, to fast-track access to scholarships for all eligible students,” read the dispatch.
Students applying for the loans were required to use an ID to access the loans portal but those who did not have could use their birth certificates, this however came at a cost since the portal was slow to adopt it, a situation that could have locked out a number of students who were set to join various public universities next month and are yet to attain the age of 18 years.
By Roy Hezron
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