It was pomp and colour after some 4,203 graduands were released during the tenth graduation ceremony of the Kisumu National Polytechnic held today.
The graduands were those who have satisfied the board of examiners, and graduate at various levels from artisan, craft, diploma and higher national diploma.
Polytechnic Chief Principal Catherine Kelonye said the event was a major milestone for the learning institution.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu who graced the occasion alongside Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili said that of the 4203 students graduating, only 770 students are from engineering related courses, translating to 18 of the graduands.
This number, Machogu said is quite low, given that Kenya wants to industrialise by 2030, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) knowledge and skills are critical for industrialisation.
“I also noted that only 207 girls are being awarded qualifications in engineering courses,” he said.This number, he observed, is a mere 4.9 per cent of the graduating class.
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Further still, he noted that over the 10-year period, only 414 females have graduated from engineering courses. On the same note, he said there were only 122 students graduating with higher national diploma, of which only 6 students are graduating with Higher National Diplomas in STEM courses.
Machogu said the numbers are quite small and called for concerted efforts in order to reverse the trend.
On staffing situation at the institution, Machogu said he is aware that there are 151 tutors employed by the Public Service Commission, and another 155 employed on contract by the Kisumu National Polytechnic Council.
Machogu added that Government is fully committed towards the growth of the TVET sector and it has allocated KSh28.3 billion shillings to the sector.
Machogu further indicated that the Government has also initiated the recruitment of 2000 tutors, bringing the total number of 4000 tutors recruited since the Kenya Kwanza Government came to power.
Dr Machogu said plans are also underway to equip over 70 TVETs with the state of-the-art equipment in partnership with the Government of China, to ensure that local students acquire practical skills to make them market-ready and competitive.
By Fredrick Odiero
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