Tension rocked Chepalungu Technical Training Institute (TTI) after students staged a strike, accusing the institution’s administration of failing to address a series of long-standing grievances.
The students cited multiple concerns, saying the issues have persisted despite repeated appeals to the management.
At the top of their list is the cost of industrial attachment. The learners are demanding that attachment fees be waived or reduced to a reasonable amount of Sh 5,000, arguing that the current charges are too high and financially burdensome.
They also want result slips issued free of charge, claiming that students are being asked to pay for documents that should ordinarily be accessible at no extra cost.
Another major complaint targets the accounts office, which students say lacks timely updates and transparency in handling their financial records.
They allege delays and inconsistencies when seeking clarification on fee balances and payments.
The academic concerns have also been raised, particularly the lack of adequate practical materials.
Students argue that, as a technical institution, practical training is essential, yet they are forced to learn theoretically without sufficient tools and equipment.
The absence of student identification cards since 2024 has further fueled dissatisfaction, with learners saying the lack of IDs has inconvenienced them both within and outside the institution.
Students also described the learning environment as unconducive, citing congestion and what they termed as a “busy environment” that disrupts effective study.
Allegations of nepotism have also emerged, with claims that most trainers are recruited from the principal’s residential area, raising concerns about fairness and transparency in hiring.
Additionally, students accused the administration of failing to publicly advertise job opportunities within the institution and expressed concern over what they described as “laxity” in leadership.
Some students further alleged that the principal has been issuing threats instead of engaging in dialogue to resolve the issues.
Efforts to get a response from the institution’s administration were still underway by the time of publication.
The strike has disrupted learning activities, with students calling on relevant education authorities to intervene and address their concerns to restore normalcy at the institution.
By Philip Koech
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