By Asa Maina
The President’s ‘Big Four Plan’ presents vast opportunities in career development for graduates from Technical learning institutions.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Amina Mohamed said the education sector has put more emphasis on Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
She added that it is only by increasing the student population in the areas that manpower can be generated and fill the technical jobs that will be produced by the Big Four agenda.
The CS said this in a speech read on her behalf by Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti Chairman of the Commission for University Education at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology 7th Graduation Ceremony held at the university grounds in Nyeri Town, Nyeri County recently.
The Big Four include universal health coverage, enhancing manufacturing, affordable housing and food and nutrition security. “In this regard, I observe with appreciation the high concentration in STEM of programmes offered by DEKUT and the large number of graduates in this area. I urge DEKUT to retain focus on STEM,” she said.
The CS said establishment of a teaching and referral cancer hospital at the institution will enable the university have a special role in supporting provision of universal healthcare. The University is working closely with the National and Nyeri County Government towards establishing a National Cancer Hospital in the university to serve as both a teaching and referral hospital.
The university has allocated 5 acres towards the project.
She said the Government will soon lay the foundation stone for the Science and Technology Park (STP) to be located in the university.
Amina noted that the park will provide opportunity for employment of graduates, internship for students and for establishment of startup companies.
“The challenge now is for DEKUT and other universities and research institutions collaborating in the STP to generate the knowledge and innovation to drive the STP,” she said.
