The government has called for mop up of youths in the villages across the country to join technical institutions in order to gain employment skills.
Consequently, Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Julius Ogamba has urged all National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) and the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) principals to find ways of reaching out to youths at the grassroots to enroll for TVET courses as a form of empowerment.
In his speech read by the Technical, Vocational Education and Training PS Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, during the 19th graduation ceremony of Eldoret National Polytechnic that saw more than 3000 graduands enter the job market, Ogamba pointed out that the government is working hard to ensure that every constituency in Kenya has access to a fully-equipped TVET institution, enabling all young people, including those from marginalized backgrounds to access training and enhance their employability.
“To build on this aspiration, I have directed TVET institutions to conduct a nation-wide marketing campaign with a target of enrolling 2,000,000 youths by June 2025,” he noted.
Noting that the increase in trainee enrollment necessitates a corresponding expansion of training facilities, the CS mentioned that, the State Department for Technical Training, under its digitization agenda, will harness advanced training and learning technologies such as Virtual Reality.
This innovative approach uses simulations to deliver real-life workshop and laboratory experiences for various courses. The trainees will have the flexibility to access these sessions remotely, promoting inclusivity and equal learning opportunities.
The Education CS said the government has been keen on ensuring that the TVET Sector is responsive to the needs of the modern labour market both locally and internationally, through key reforms aimed at ensuring quality, relevance, access, and equity in the TVET sub-sector.
Additionally, the government is committed to ensuring that all TVET institutions, including The Eldoret National Polytechnic, adhere to the highest standards of quality.
“Quality assurance is critical not just for the institutions, but for the future success of the trainees we graduate. It is imperative that the training provided meets the highest quality standards and aligns with the needs of both local and global job markets,” noted Ogamba.
To achieve highest quality standards, the CS directed that Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) assessments must incorporate industry assessors to ensure that the training outcomes meet real-world demands.
Additionally, trainees should be actively involved in institutional projects, such as the upcoming Ultra-Modern Library that Eldoret National Polytechnic is constructing to enhance their practical skills and provide hands-on experience that reflects workplace scenarios
Ogamba affirmed that the government continues to prioritize TVET in its annual budgetary allocations, recognizing the immense potential of the sector in driving socio-economic transformation, and an enabling environment for TVET sub-sector to produce skilled graduates, who are ready to actively contribute to the development agenda of the country.
He underscored that the government’s resolve to ensure affordability through the current funding model that ensures that no youth is left behind.
In her remarks, the PS said they want the young people to get a skill, noting that the government is on course to get job opportunities for the youth after graduation.
Noting that international recruiters seek trainers with extreme finesse, she alluded that the competency of graduates must ensure competitiveness to international standards, so that when they go outside the country they do not need retraining.
Eldoret National Polytechnic Principal Dr. Charles Koech lauded the government’s move to increase enrolment, noting that, he will put up measures to accommodate more trainees up from the current over 18000 students.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
