Teso North Member of Parliament Oku Kaunya has successfully lobbied for equipping of Chamasiri Technical Training Institute.
This follows Wednesday’s visit to the institute by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha where he said the necessary learning equipment will be delivered before March 2021.
Magoha said his work is to ensure all Kenyan children are treated equally hence he will make sure that all children joining the technical institute are given justice through provision of the necessary learning equipment.
Magoha directed Principal Secretary -State Department for Vocational and Technical Training Dr. Julius Jwan to prioritize the needs of the learners in the institute.
“It is important that when we are distributing the next batch of equipment, you must ensure that electrical, mechanical and agricultural components are here first before you bring others because this is a technical institute,” he said.
Magoha told off legislators who are against the transfer of principals heading technical institutes in their constituencies saying the principals should be ready to work anywhere within Kenya.
Kaunya appealed to the Cabinet Secretary to lobby for the amount of money allocated through The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and Higher Education Loans Board to be increased so that more students at the institute can benefit.
He said the government should also make it easier and faster to access the money.
“There are challenges I have realized here on the ground. Most of the students who qualify to join universities or technical training institutes are unable to proceed unless they pay the first term fees.
“Secondly HELB has a requirement when you are applying online, that you must produce the National Identification card yet some of the students completing form four are yet to acquire them. I believe these are challenges your office can handle,” Kaunya stated.
The MP also urged Teso North residents and surrounding communities to take their children to the institute to acquire technical skills which are now a necessity for socio-economic growth of any community.
Chamasiri Technical Training Institute opened its doors to students last year and currently has only two registered trainers against a requirement of 30.The learners population stands at 502 and all are sponsored by Teso North National Government Constituency Development Fund.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
