By Obegi Malack
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) managers have received training on public finance, management and governance. This training is targeting 3,115 managers from around the country.
Dr Margaret Mwakima, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Vocational and Technical Training, said the programme will go a long way in ensuring prudent use of resource allocations to institutions.
The PS, who presided over the commencement of the event, said the inception meeting was a culmination of a bid placement by the Kenya Technical Training College (KTTC) to carry out consultancy services to train TVET management on public finance management & governance.
The Government has established over 120 new TVET institutions in order to make Technical Education accessible and affordable.
“Many of these institutions have new management in place. It is critical that these managers are trained so that they are more effective and efficient in the running of TVET institutions,” the PS said.
In accordance with the governance policies, frameworks and structures of TVET Act of 2013 and Sessional Paper No. 14 of 2012, the capacity of managers on public finance and governance is critical.
KTTC Chief Principal, Dr Edwin Tarno, said the training was crucial in helping the managers to improve governance capacity in TVET institutions as a way of improving efficacy and professionalism. The principal said other TVET staffs will also be trained.
Dr Tarno said the managers will be trained on how to generate resources instead of depending on the government every time, adding all materials will be uploaded on a portal for easy accessibility.
Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI) Chairperson, Glory Mutungi, said identifying finance management as a key aspect to be addressed is essential, adding the training will help improve the level of management of the institutions.
Various reports and surveys including those from UNESCO Bear II, Supporting Innovations in the Technical and Vocational Education Sector (SITVES) and those by KTTC indicate gaps in management capacity in the TVET sector.
It therefore transpired that the main aim of the training was to improve governance capacity in TVET institutions as a way of improving efficacy and professionalism.
The training was made possible through partnership between the Government of Kenya (GoK) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
AfDB has extended a loan through GoK to the Ministry of Education – GoK/AfDB TVET – for relevant skills project PHASE II.
The objectives of the training include: fostering quality leadership of TVET institutions; adherence to government regulations in public financial management; proper supply chains management services in conformity to government regulations; effective and efficient facilities management and, inventory control and proper project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation.
