The Shambere Technical Training Institute has kick-started the Job door for the Youth (Joy) project to train youths in Agribusiness while preparing them for the job market through Integrated Agribusiness Hubs.
The project, which is being implemented by Procasur, Shamberere is partnering with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Labour Organization (ILO) and Ustadi Foundation.
To support the project activities, the institute is establishing an Agribusiness and Technological Centre to ensure sustainability and continuity of joy project activities.
The Institute’s Principal Judith Akaranga said the institute is committed to forge partnerships in various projects through science, technology, research and innovation with Joy project being one of them.
Speaking during the 2nd Graduation ceremony, Ms. Akaranga said the TTI which is now a center of excellence in Mechanical Engineering has seen an increment of graduates from 530 in 2017 to the current cohort of 819 graduates.
Established in 1982 as a rural education programme, Shamberere was elevated into a youth polytechnic in 1995 and later to a trade test centre in 1996.
It was then elevated to a Technical Training Institute in 2009 with current enrolment of 2100 trainees.
The Principal said due to its tremendous growth, the Institute has mentored two Vocational Training Centres that is the Kongoni Technical and Vocational College and Chevaywa Technical Training Institute in Lugari.
The Institute is among the 63 polytechnics in Kakamega, a rise from 28 polytechnics in 2013.
The chief officer in Charge of Education at Kakamega County Government Doreen Amora said the county government is constructing four new polytechnics to meet the target of one polytechnic per ward.
She said the county government recently acquired and equipped polytechnics with modern tools and equipment at a total cost of Sh40 million.
“The county government gives each trainee a capitation of Sh. 15000 per year which has led to increase in enrolment from 2158 trainees in 2013 to 10 000,” she noted.
The National government, through the state department for Vocational and Technical Training is in the process of increasing the number of National Polytechnics to have at least one in each county.
The government has invested over Sh10.6 billion in the TVET sector to support skill based training across the country.
Although there has been a massive infrastructure investment in the sector, some of the general public still perceive TVET unattractive and meant for learners who failed to join university.
However, the government has begun branding TVET through TVET skills competitions such as robotics, manufacture of products, TVET Fair competitions, music, Drama and TVET games and sports.
By Moses Wekesa
