Principal wants Matili TTI elevated to national poly

By Tony Wafula

Matili Technical Training Institute (TTI) Chief Principal Judith Sande has expressed desire to see the Bungoma-based institute elevated to a national polytechnic.

In an exclusive interview with Education News in her office, Sande revealed that all the stakeholders and community around the school have a desire that the institute based in Kimilili Constituency be elevated to a national polytechnic, arguing that it has all it takes.

“We have had conversations not once but severally here in my office with the stakeholders manning this institution and everybody has the desire that it is elevated to a national facility,” she said.

She noted that currently the institution has a population of over 6,100 students taking different courses, adding that the school is also putting up extra structures to accommodate the huge influx.

“During the admission we get many students who want to take different courses and we can’t chase them. We instead grant them opportunities because we want to fight illiteracy in our community,” Sande said.

Since many aren’t securing chances at the various universities, she said, technical colleges give them avenues to showcase their talents and make sure that they are realising their dreams.

She called on those who might have not secured chances at the universities to join a technical institute and get knowledge that will them be self-employed.

Sande said they have spoken to the communities around the school and they are willing to sell land to the school if need be.

“In case we are given a go ahead to elevate Matili to national status, the communities around have agreed to give us land,” she said.

She lauded President William Ruto for being a good ambassador when it comes to the technical institutions, saying that as a school they have a lot of expectations from him.

The Principal asked the government to fully support technical institutions, adding that with the limited job opportunities youths need to be impacted with technical knowledge to help them get self- employed.

“Many students that have passed through Matili have proceeded well, with the knowledge they got here they have been able to start their own businesses like welding,” Sande noted.

However, she added that the school is procuring equipment to aid in the imparting technical knowledge in the engineering fields.

Sande said that apart from the institutions doing well it also participates in the co-curricular activities.