Enrol more youths in technical colleges

Currently, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is the buzz word in basic learning in Kenya.
Skills obtained from these institutions are very vital in poverty reduction, economic recovery and sustainable development.
As a consequence, policy attention to TVET in Kenya is increasing.
The country through the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training has set up technical colleges to drive this programme and it is causing an educational excitement in rural areas and urban centres.
Basically TVET is concerned with the acquisition of knowledge and skills for the job market.
The move by the National Government to extend beyond its current scope of helping students earn degrees in universities to include programmes offered at technical colleges is in the right direction.
It will help students pursue careers that mesh with their skills and their interests while also helping fill workforce gaps across Kenya.
However, the revelation by State Department Vocational Technical Training Principal Secretary Kevit Desai that Kenya has 180, 000 students in technical colleges yet there is a capacity of 3.1 million is disheartening.
Getting exactly the right enrollment — always a tricky proposition — is especially crucial for these institutions.
It could be inspiring to see the increase in demand of technical skills by our young people.
The Government needs to invest more in expanding the sector.