By Hilton Mwabili
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has hinted at the creation of a new body that will be in charge of streamlining Technical Training Institutions (TTI) to enhance the quality of training.
The CS said the entity will be charged with the mandate of registering, employing, promoting, disciplining and paying TTI tutors.
Speaking during the opening of the Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI) annual delegates meeting for principals, deputy principals and directors at a Mombasa hotel, Prof. Magoha said the body will ensure technical institutions offer quality training as demanded by the government.
“Once a body like TSC is created, we will promote you based on measurable merits and not based on the number of years you have worked,” said the CS who urged the principals to set their own targets.
He was responding to concerns by the KATTI delegates led by their chair Glory Mutungi over lack of promotions and low remunerations.
“Ask yourself, whether or not you connect with your students. If you are training people to go out and look for jobs after graduating, then you have failed. The government has empowered you to train students on how to solve problems,” Prof. Magoha said.
The CS asked the principals to prepare for a robust growth in the technical institutions due to the growing number of students who prefer technical institutions to universities.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Vocational and Technical Training Dr. Margaret Mwakima said the government has increased the number of TVET institutions from 52 in 2013 to 238 in 2021 at a cost of Shs 10.6 billion.
Out of the 238 TVET institutions, 192 are operational and 46 are nearing completion.
“Since 2019, Shs 10.3 billion capitation government grants and 11.1 billion HELB loans has been issued to TVET trainees. Enrolment in the institutions has increased from 55,945 in 2013 to 249,316 in 2021. A conditional grant of Shs 2 billion is also given to VTC every financial year,” stated Mwakima.
She added that the State Department is refurbishing four Special TVET institutions at a total cost of Shs 800 million to promote equity and participation in the sector.
She said there has been a provision to equip 214 engineering workshops in the 192 operational institutions with state of the art training equipment at a cost of Shs 24 billion.
‘Currently, there are 12 National Polytechnics but plans are under way to establish nine more with a view to increase Centers of Excellence in the TVET sector,’ said Mwakima.
The additional polytechnics include Coast Institute of Technology in Taita Taveta, Jeremiah Nyaga TTI in Embu, Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology in Nakuru, Michuki TTI in Muranga, Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology in Kiambu, Bureti TTI in Kericho, Mawego TTI in Homa Bay and Masai TTI in Kajiado.
