Non-performing Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in the country now risk being sacked, TVET Principal Secretary Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria has warned.
While speaking during a visit to Shamberere National Polytechnic to monitor its progress ahead of its official opening, Dr. Muoria cautioned that it is no longer business as usual and institution heads sleeping on the job will be sent home.
She stated that the government was seriously investing in technical education to enable the youth to access technical training and skills to push the country’s economy forward.
“The President is concerned about the rising unemployment numbers in the country and that is why he is spearheading the launch and revamp of TVET institutions across the country. The job market is huge and demanding but we can only benefit if we properly train and attain the needed skills and this will be possible if we have committed Principals heading our institutions,” she said.
The PS cited her recent Lang’ata National Polytechnic visit as an eye-opener after she found the institution in a dilapidated state despite being equipped appropriately.
Dr. Muoria hailed measures put in place by Principal Elisha Nyamu to standardize Shamberere since its elevation to national stature, reiterating that so much had been achieved.
“Judging from what I have witnessed here, I have no doubt that you are the right Principal for the institution as you have pushed for the agenda of both the ministry and the government. This institution is well prepared to start implementing national status programmes,” she said.
“I was to officially promote you to national status and launch the Jitume ICT lab, but having seen what you have attained so far, I feel the President is the right person to do so. I will with him about your progress and we will assist you wherever possible to see you expand,” she added.
Dr. Muoria assured present TVET heads that they had managed to restructure the curriculum to enable them to teach CBET programmes despite a lot of resistance from some quarters.
“It is now in the public domain that we shall be teaching and conducting CBET and CDACC examinations and for the trainees who had already registered with KNEC, we will allow them to sit for their exams as we phase it out of technical training,” she stated.
The PS assured the principals that they were working to enable all technical institutions to have industrial manufacturing capabilities so that all the institutions are directly linked to industries for practical training, attachment and employment purposes.
“We are working on policies that will allow factories to be set up within our institutions to push for hands-on learning and our determination is to see our young people generating revenue to their families and taxes to the country. We have to do what we must as the country’s biggest asset is the youth,” she said.
By Andanje Wakhungu
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