Teso North legislator Oku Kaunya has urged the government to fast-track equipping of Chamasiri Technical Training Institute which opened its doors to students last year.
Kaunya who spoke at the institute said education is the greatest equalizer in the society, hence it should be prioritized in a bid to empower the youth.
“The institute is yet to be adequately equipped and staffed despite enrolling the first batch of students last year. It has only two registered trainers against a requirement of 30. Our plea to the Ministry of Education is that it should act fast so that the over 500 learners at the institute can be properly trained,” he said.
Busia Technical and Vocational Education and Training County Director Amatha Wekesa said the government is planning to recruit trainers especially in the building department in all the technical institutes
across the country.
She urged the youth s especially those who have completed form four and failed to meet the university entry grade to take advantage of the
technical institute and empower themselves.
“Let us all support TVET. Technical skills are very key in empowering our youth. Through technical skills one can do a lot socially and economically. You can be self-employed or you can get into gainful employment,” he said.
The institute’s principal Joseph Ogot hailed the area MP for the support he has accorded the institute after sponsoring the first 502 students through the National Government Constituency Development Fund.
“The students we have are spread out across 25 different courses ranging from craft, certificate and diploma. The courses include building and civil engineering, electrical engineering, information, communication and technology, plumbing, general agriculture among others,” he said.
He said the institute has entered a Memorandum Of Understanding with Musakasa Technical Training Institute in the neighbouring Bungoma
County where students undertake practical lessons to cover the lack of equipment.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
