The government is set to employ 2, 700 Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) trainers to bridge the current shortage.
The institutions are currently faced by an acute shortage of trainers following an increase in enrollment after the government introduced capitation and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) for students at the institutions.
Vocational Training Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Kevit Desai said 1, 000 trainers shall be recruited in April this year and an additional 1, 700 in the next financial year.
The recruitment, he said shall bring to 6, 000, the number of TVET trainers in the country, to ensure that the institutions play an active role in driving the Big Four agenda.
Dr. Desai disclosed that the trainers shall be equipped with the necessary pedagogical and technical skills to ensure that they produce high quality graduates.
The trainers, he disclosed shall then be transferred from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to create a dedicated service and enhance growth in particular skills.
The government, he added has equipped the institutions with state of the art lathe and Computer Numerical Machines (CNC) machines to help grow the auto mobile sector.
“With these machines you are able to design and make spare parts. We have so many success stories where small and medium enterprise approach our institutions to fabricate parts for them and that is the way to go,” said the PS.
He challenged the institutions to create linkages with SME’s and the community to utilize the machines and drive the manufacturing pillar of the Big Four agenda.
Speaking in Kisumu on Saturday where he officiated over the inauguration of Matili Technical Training Institute (TTI) Board of Governors, the PS said each institution was free to develop a tailor made curriculum to help realize the vision of the institutions.
The State Department for Technical Vocational Education and Training, he disclosed has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Housing to bring on board TVET institutions on the affordable housing program.
Through the initiative, TVET institutions across the country are expected to come up with cutting edge technology on plumbing, water solutions, solar and energy and ecosystem management to serve their respective regions.
The Ministry of Housing aims at constructing one million affordable housing units across the country under the Big Four agenda.
Meanwhile, the PS asked the TVET institutions not to panic over the delayed disbursement of capitation for September 2018.
The treasury, he said, had assured that the funds shall be released soon to ease the burden on the institutions.
By Chris Mahandara
