Rongo University is set to start offering Courses at Migori Teachers Training College in May this year as part of its strategy to expand education in the lake region.
This was revealed by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Gudu,who was speaking at the College during its 35th graduation presided over by Finance Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi and attended by Migori Governor, Ochilo Ayako, Lawmakers; Dr Peter Masara ( Suna West) and Tom Odege ( Nyatike).
The university’s Vice Chancellor, prof. Samuel Gudu said they are partnering with the College to ensure more students undertaking various Courses access education with ease.
“We have partnered with the university to offer Open Distance Learning Programs (ODP) and I appeal to graduands to join it to uplift their education” Professor Gudu said.
Education capitation and Teachers Employment
Treasury CS Mbadi also challenged Kenyans who want to train as teachers not to give up, noting, the number of children joining schools is increasing despite the government taking long to employ graduate teachers.
He revealed that the country secured short term loans from global lenders and invested in long term projects whose results are to be realized in ten years, noting, the repayment of the debt is slowing down the country’s economic growth.
“The economy will improve and the government will employ more teachers to cope with high enrolment in primary and secondary schools” Mbadi said.
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The CS, who commissioned the graduands added “We have children to be taught. We have teachers to teach them. It is only that we have not been disciplined in our budget and expenditure”
He noted that the government allocated KShs. 500 billion in education and channeled Kshs. 390 billion to the teachers Service Commission ( TSC) to employ teachers while kshs. 97 billion is funneled to primary and secondary schools as capitation.
Mbadi noted the government will avail KShs. 20 million to the College to remove the asbestos roofs and replace them with iron sheets to foster the health of students, Tutors, non-teaching staff and the local community, noting, rain water harvested from the asbestos roofs is unfit for human consumption.
College Challenges
The College’s Board chairman, Michael Ogutu noted the College was the first to admit the first cohort of students undertaking Diploma in Primary Teaching Education (DPTE) but has challenges,
He said the College, started 42 years ago lacks modern computer laboratories, adequate and modern tuition blocks and science laboratories to assist train teachers handle more areas.
The Board chairman noted the College has installed Information Communication Technology ( ICT), improved network coverage for research, learning and online assessment, renovated and improved infrastructure.
“We are implementing our 2022-2027 strategic plan, have Income Generating Activities ( IGAs) and will start more to boost the College’s income” Ogutu told the gathering.
Low Enrollment
The College’s Chief Principal, John Chivile raised a red flag over low enrolment by students in Teacher Training Colleges ( TTCs) and linked it to high academic requirements, lack of capitation and poverty.
The Principal noted some college students drop out due to lack of fees and appealed to the government to also channel capitation to Colleges the way is doing to university students and those in technical and vocational institutions to ease the suffering of College students.
“Several students from poor families in TTCs drop out every year due to lack of fees and some cannot join due to poverty. The trend needs to be reversed for those who want to train as teachers to access the education” Chivile stressed.
He implored the graduands to from Groups and start kindergarten schools and primary schools to earn a living as they wait to be employed by the government and challenged them to upgrade their education and scale higher.
The College, noted the Principal, recorded 96 percent pass in performance, was third nationally and had qualified from the region to present 12 items in the on-going Drama and Film festival in Nakuru County.
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“ The students have been trained well and those with Diploma in Primary Teaching Education can teach Junior Secondary” Chivile said as he lauded his Deputy, Naphtal Nyang’iti, Dean Of Curriculum, Kennedy Mung’oni, Dean of Students, Monica Chuchu, education, government officers and community members for supporting the College soar.
Out-going student leader, Sebah Lagat appealed to the government to reduce the entry Grades from a C plain to a C minus to enable students who want to pursue teaching profession join colleges.
He said they had given views during public participation, saying, the high entry Grades was hampering potential teacher trainees from joining Colleges to train.
The former student leader challenged the government to offer students in Teacher give loans to students Training Colleges loans like those in universities to enable more join colleges.
“Higher Education Loans Board ( HELB) is giving loans to universities. We want the body to give students in Teacher Tr aining Colleges loans to ease their suffering” Lagat told the congregation.
He petitioned the government to employ the first cohort of teachers who had trained under the Competence Based Curriculum to teach in Junior Schools, saying they are qualified and competent.
During ceremony, 410 graduated with Upgrade DPTE after completing three years- 2022-2024, 45, DPTE for 2021, 108, Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education ( DECTE), 71 Certificate in Primary Teacher Education ( PI), 2022-2023, 01, Early Childhood Diploma Education ( ECDE), 2024 and 13 ECDE for 2022-2024 respectively.
By Emmanuel Gwakoi
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