Parents have been urged to enroll their children in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions after completing secondary school in order to equip them with practical skills for employment and self-reliance.
Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago said the government had introduced programmes aimed at empowering young people through technical training and skills development.
“Parents should ensure their children join Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions after completing secondary school so that they can acquire practical skills for employment and self-reliance,” said Mandago.
Speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony at Kapkoiga Girls Secondary School in Kesses Sub-county, he warned against allowing students to remain idle at home after completing Form Four, noting that technical education could help them secure employment opportunities or venture into self-employment.
“If we want to address unemployment among the youth, then we must embrace technical training because it gives learners practical knowledge that can help them earn a living,” he said.
Mandago also defended the current university funding model, saying it was designed to support students from vulnerable and low-income families across the country.
“The university funding model is ensuring that every child in the Republic of Kenya whose parents cannot afford school fees has their education guaranteed by the Government of Kenya,” he said.
According to the senator, the programme supports needy students throughout their university education, including orphans and learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“The government is committed to ensuring that no student is denied an opportunity to pursue higher education because of poverty,” he added.
At the same time, Mandago praised the administration of President William Ruto for implementing reforms aimed at transforming the education sector and aligning learning with the needs of the modern economy.
He termed the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) the most suitable education system for the country, arguing that previous curricula focused heavily on outdated content that did not match current industrial and labour market demands.
“The Competency-Based Curriculum is the best system because it equips learners with relevant skills needed for industrialization, job creation, and economic transformation,” Mandago said.
He noted that the government was focusing on industrialization through the establishment of industrial parks and Special Economic Zones, alongside policies aimed at attracting investors and industries into the country.
According to him, a modern education system was essential in producing the skilled workforce required to support Kenya’s economic transformation agenda.
“We cannot industrialize if we do not have skilled manpower. That is why technical education and CBC are critical in preparing our youth for the future economy,” he stated.
The senator also cautioned political leaders against engaging in tribal politics and profiling communities for political gain, saying such statements threatened national unity and peaceful coexistence.
“We must avoid divisive politics and focus on issues that unite Kenyans and promote development,” he said.
On the issue of rising fuel prices, Mandago described the challenge as a global problem and not unique to Kenya.
He accused some leaders of using the situation to incite Kenyans instead of providing constructive solutions, while defending the government’s economic policies.
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“The government has chosen to subsidize productivity rather than consumption because that is the only sustainable way to stabilize the economy and create opportunities for wananchi,” he said.
By Kimutai Langat
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