Fredrick Odiero
The Principal Secretary in the state department for vocational and technical training Dr Margaret Mwakima has said the government will enlist some 3000 trainers in the wake of a shortage of tutors in TVETs across the county.
She said that the Ministry will soon advertise for the positions and those who qualify are encouraged to apply adding that tutors with different competencies will be hired on the basis of demand in the various colleges countrywide.
The PS said that the number of TVETS has continued grow with the Government increasing their number from 52 in 2013 to 238 in 2021 at a cost of Sh10.6Bilion.
Out of the 238 TVET institutions, the PS said 192 are operational and 46 are nearing completion.
“Due to the 10.3billion Capitation government grants and 11.1 billion HELB loans to TVET trainees since 2019, there has been an increase in enrolment from 55,945 in 2013 to 249,316 in 2021.
Additionally, a conditional grant of 2 billion is given to VTC every financial year,” stated Mwakima
She added that the State Department is refurbishing four Special TVET institutions at a total cost of Sh 800 million to promote equity and participation in the sector.
To ensure quality and relevance of TVET institutions, the PS noted, there has been a provision to equip 214 engineering workshops in the 192 operational institutions with state-of-the-art training equipment at the total cost of Sh24 billion.
According to Mwakima, currently there are 12 National Polytechnics but plans are under way to establish nine additional National Polytechnics with a view to increase Centers of Excellence in the TVET sector.
The additional polytechnics include Coast Institute of Technology, in Taita Taveta, Jeremiah Nyaga TTI in Embu, Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology in Nakuru, Michuki TTI in Murang’a, Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology in Kiambu, Bureti TTI in Kericho, Mawego TTI in Homa Bay and Masai TTI in Kajiado.
The PS said the national government has invested massively in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector escalating students’ enrolment to these institutions by over 60 per cent since 2013.
She said the state has invested multi billions to equip TVET colleges in the country with modern facilities in terms of infrastructure and highly skilled trainers to improve the quality of education offered in TVET and bridge the country’s skills gap.
Dr Mwakima was speaking at the Ramogi Institute of advanced technology (RIAT) in Kisumu where she commissioned a driving school.
She indicated that the new unit will provide a learning opportunity for drivers Boda Boda operators in the community and generate the much needed income to the Institute.
She urged the management to consider introducing refresher driving course since Refresher driving will help one to become a better, safer and more confident driver.
“There is need to identify unique soft skills that are more significant in the volatile industrial environment and properly infused into the CBET programmes.
This will empower TVET graduates to perform better, and to survive in the competitive world of employment and also inculcate in them confidence to seek alternate routes other than formal employment.
In order to enhance access to higher education and empower the youth Dr. Mwakima said the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) administers loans to students pursuing diploma courses just as it is for those pursuing degree programmes both in public and private institutions.
“I urge the youth to seize this available opportunity to acquire necessary life-long skills, and competencies that will enable them compete favourably in the workplace.’ she said.
