Nearly Ksh 45 million allocated for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in Trans Nzoia is lying idle due to massive cases of dropouts and absenteeism in tertiary institutions.
This has raised great concern within the Department of Education, prompting County Executive Committee Member Janarose Katama to launch a door-to-door campaign to bring eligible learners back to fill the numerous vacancies in the TVETs.
Some students are reportedly staying home, having ignored these institutions in favor of university education.
With a 39 per cent cut from the Elimu Bursary Fund earmarked for capitation and the improvement of TVET facilities, Katama hopes parents will step up and support their children in enrolling to enhance their skills and meet university entry requirements.
Out of the 31 TVETs spread across 25 wards in the county, enrollment stands at 2,760 learners — 1,567 boys compared to 1,193 girls — a number that matches the available space and vacancies.
The low enrollment has been blamed on general ignorance, poor publicity, poverty, early pregnancies, and negative societal attitudes.
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While the county government covers a capitation fee of Ksh 8,000 per student annually, parents are expected to top up with Ksh 7,000.
Additionally, the government has secured support from Dutch sponsor “Tools for Work,” a partnership aimed at introducing specialized training models. This initiative is designed to prepare graduates for either self-employment or seamless access to job opportunities by equipping them with hands-on skills.
Another sponsor from Poland has also come on board, supplying training tools for various trades to optimize resources and enhance education quality.
According to TVET County Director Eliud Lusweti, despite challenges in fully meeting infrastructure budgets, the institutes are adequately prepared to provide quality training in a sustainable environment and ensure students sit for national exams. Lusweti cited inadequate equipment, limited funding, and a shortage of skilled trainers and assessors as the primary obstacles to achieving successful training.
In response, each of the 25 elected MCAs has been actively ensuring that all TVET students in their respective wards enroll to benefit from bursaries.
Speaking in Cherangany during a sensitization tour, Katama said: “Governor George Natembeya’s dedication to technical training is yielding positive results. We are witnessing more young people enrolling, and we humbly request Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to ensure no child is left behind in this mission.”
To attract more learners, electricity connection has been prioritized, with trades like carpentry, joinery, and mechanics proving particularly popular.
Additionally, the introduction of WiFi in these institutions is expected to have a valuable economic impact.
As a devolved unit, Trans Nzoia also focuses on literacy improvement through its 402 public Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDC), 383 private centers, and 38 adult learning centers. The county aims to reduce its illiteracy rate by about 30 percent, with 7,201 male adult learners compared to 592 females.
According to Katama, this initiative has empowered adult students to better manage their economic ventures independently, a move her department is committed to supporting.
By Abisai Amugune
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