Leaders in Baringo led by County Executive Committee (CEC) for education Thomas Nongonop and Baringo Central legislator (MP) Joshua Kandie have decried low enrollment in the regions vocational institutions.
Nongonop who blew the whistle over the low enrollment revealed that all the 13 vocational training centres in Baringo had only 1,325 students, a figure he noted was below the expected capacity.
He observed that other counties are experiencing similar low enrollment as Baringo’s vocational institutions yet thousands of form four leavers who qualify to join them cannot be accounted for.
Nongonop noted more than 438,000 students obtained a mean grade of D+ and below in KCSE of 2017 while in 2018 more than 234,000 students got a mean grade of D+ and below but majority were idling in villages without any productive activity.
“If more than 672,000 form four leavers in Kenya got a mean grade of D+ and below just in two years and have not joined any vocational or tertiary college where is the future of our youth?” he paused.
The educationist who was speaking at Kabarnet Museums during launch of distribution exercise for Baringo Central NG-CDF bursary worth Sh 3.2 million urged all stakeholders to encourage youth to join vocational centres to acquire technical skills that will enhance self-employment.
Nongonop expressed his dismay that the low enrollment in vocational centers within Baringo made the county to be allocated little funds for the sector.
“We also urge the national government to put measures which will ensure all students who attained D+ and below join vocational centers,” the CEC said.
Nongonop stated that the county government has even established new vocational centers in Marigat and Chemolingot which requires more students to join them since the fees is subsidised and affordable adding that the needy students will also be awarded bursaries.
The area MP who noted that his administration is advocating for furthering of education among the youth stated that he has organized a six-month scholarship programme in Germany where selected youth will be taught technical skills which they will in turn come and use at the constituency.
“Some of our youth fear to venture in skill training and prefer settling for bodaboda business because they are not aggressive enough to progress in life,” said the Baringo Central MP.
Kandie however urged the youth to take advantage of the scholarship opportunities rather than lazying around and waiting to be spoon fed by their parents after finishing secondary school education.
By Job Kelwon/Joshua Kibet
