The youth in Kericho County have been urged to apply for various Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs being offered at University of Kabianga, Kericho Town Campus, in collaboration with Belgut Technical Training Institute, starting this September.
Speaking to KNA Monday in Kericho, Belgut Technical Training Institute Registrar Benard Korir said that the number of students who qualify to join universities is only 10 per cent and so he called on all other young people to take advantage of the opportunity to join TVET programs.
Korir also revealed that the national government and the Kericho County government would sponsor all students who join the TVET programs through this collaboration between University of Kabianga and Belgut Technical Training Institute.
“The TVET programs are fully sponsored by the government and so students will be in a position to access government capitation of around Sh30, 000 and also access HELB loans of up to of Sh40, 000 every academic year. The County government of Kericho is also offering sponsorships and bursaries to TVET students,” said Korir.
He said the target is to admit at least 1500 TVET students at the University of Kabianga Kericho Town Campus, where students will attend classes as day scholars.
According to the Registrar, 40 TVET programs will be offered at the Town Campus, while other 47 programs will be administered at Belgut TTI including higher diploma courses, diploma courses, certificate and also short courses.
“At University of Kabianga, Town Campus, we mainly have Information Communication and Technology programs, business programs and a few for institutional management. We believe this will go a long way in creating opportunities for the young people in Kericho,” added Korir.
On her part, the University of Kabianga Town Campus Director Dr. Janeth Kombich concurred with Korir that the collaboration between University of Kabianga and Belgut TTI will offer a great opportunity to the young people around Kericho, where TVET and University students will interact and inspire the former to join degree courses once they complete their technical courses.
“We have enough space at the Town Campus and therefore we are able to accommodate both the University and the TVET students. We have also enhanced ICT through the same collaboration and now have two ICT labs, therefore we are ready for them and we also believe that the community around us is also ready to receive them in terms of accommodating them,” said the director.
Meanwhile, Kombich has invited interested students to attend a career day scheduled for Friday 10th September 2021 at the Moi gardens in Kericho, where all TVET programs will be explained in detail to the students. She further added that admissions will also start during career day.
On the other hand, the County Director of TVET Peter Cheruiyot said for students to get a place at a TVET institution, they have to apply via the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
The available programs, institutions, minimum entry requirements and the application procedures are always available on the KUCCPS students’ portal accessible through the Placement Service website www.kuccps.ac.ke.
He also stated that the entry requirement for all Diploma Courses is a C- and above; D (plain) and above for Certificate courses, while other course categories are open and students can apply for funding from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) for their fees payment and upkeep.
Cheruiyot observed that in Kericho County over 3,921 students were enrolled in the five public TVET institutions last year and expects more students to apply for admission in the ongoing September intake.
The Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act 2013 was designed to address the job skills issue in Kenya and to ensure an increased and sustained enrolment ratio of 20% by the year 2030.
By Kibe Mburu
