Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised a disturbing concern over the sudden fee increments at Technical, Vocational Education and Training, (TVET) colleges across the country.
Speaking in the Senate Sifuna noted that whereas the government has indicated a pullback in University education fees, the same was not with technical training institutions.
The senator lamented that fees in TVET institutions had sharply risen from 67,000/- per year to 35,000 per module hence translating to 105,000/- per year.
Sifuna questioned the justification in sharp increase in fees in TVET institutions noted that the institutions play a critical role in the country’s labour market hence the need to strengthen them.
He urged government to cushion needy students and address the delay in the disbursements saying it aggravate the burden on needy students and parents as well.
Sifuna urged the senate departmental committee on education to look into the funding gaps and the sharp fee increments.
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His Vihiga counterpart Godfrey Osotsi, earlier on urged the government to review how vocational training centres are being funded, saying that its is worrying to see TVETs in many parts of Kenya struggling to stay open.
The senator explained that vocational centres are essential because they give skills to young people who do not make it to universities or higher levels of learning.
He said, “Vocational training centres are very critical institutions in this country. It is a way of managing youths’ problems in Kenya.”
He recalled that in earlier years, the national government directly supported the institutions through capitation. However, that role was later handed to the counties.
“A few years back, we had an arrangement where the national government supported them via capitation, and that was left to the county governments,” the Senator told the Senate.
The senator however said that the County Governments have limited resources and are unable to sustain the institutions at the same level.
He added, “County governments are unable to fund these important institutions, and it is sad that some have already closed down.”
According to him, the collapse of training centres denies thousands of young people a chance to gain skills that could reduce joblessness and crime.
He said the government should urgently find ways to strengthen the system so that no youth is left behind.
Osotsi ended his submission by urging both levels of government to work together and restore proper support for vocational training.
He said, “Those who cannot manage to join universities and higher levels of education can join these village TVETs, but we are seeing a trend where these vocational training centres are collapsing due to funding issues.”
Fredrick Odiero
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