By John Majau
Technical and vocational training institutions have been challenged to set up incubation and production units in a bid to promote innovation and enhance job creation in the country.
The director of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Dr Meshack Opwora said the Government was keen on using technical institutions to address unemployment that largely affects the youth.
Speaking during the first international conference on research and innovation at the Meru National Polytechnic, Dr Opwora said the Government and development partners were equipping technical institutions with required equipment to provide the skills needed in the economy.
He said with the country having 39.1 per cent unemployment comprising of 10 million jobless youths, there was need for TVET institutions to align their programmes to specific industries.
“We want to ensure that the local industries start taking up innovations from our TVET institutions in order to create employment. All institutions are also required to align their programmes to the respective industry”, he said.
The government is supplying equipment to ensure institutions produce various products for income generation,” Dr Opwora said.
He said every department in TVET institutions will be required to commercialise its activities as it provides hands on skills to students.
Dr. Opwora said incubation centres will help students develop their innovations for the market.
Meru National Polytechnic Chief Principal Geoffrey Rukunja said there was need to give emphasis to research and innovation in the TVET sector.
