Graduates of Ekerubo Gietai Technical Training Institute (TTI) have been urged to use the skills acquired to create their own job opportunities.
Ms. Loice Mwale, Director at state department of Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET), who presided over the first graduation ceremony of Ekerubo Gietai Technical Training Institute (TTI) as the chief guest on Thursday challenged graduates to stop whining over joblessness and be creative and use acquired skills to innovate entrepreneurial projects to build economic sustainability from their business ventures.
“Technical skills are driving global economies because white collar jobs have become limited and are not key in harnessing new innovations and inventions. Blending technical skills with the current advanced technologies opens up numerous untapped job opportunities globally for young people to explore through creative entrepreneurial innovations for you to make a decent living.” She said.
She explained that for countries to build and sustain vibrant economies, they need a critical mass of skilled, competent and an innovative workforce trained to industrial standards the reason why the ministry of education is implementing various reforms at TVET institutions to improve access of quality and relevant training to eliminate misconceptions and stereotypes which has made TVETs unattractive countrywide.
“To enhance access to all students, government is set to construct at least one TVET institution in all the 290 constituencies and provide them with industrial standard equipment to make their training effective and relevant, the ministry has standardized school fees paid to all public TVET institutions to ksh,56,420 per student per year, it has further provided capitation through Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) at the same time made it possible for trainees to apply for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to enable the vulnerable trainees access training through this interventions.” The Director listed.
She further directed the institution management to initiate demand driven technical courses, deploy qualified human resources who will equip the trainees with right technical and entrepreneurial skills to be in a position to confidently start their own businesses at the same time create employment opportunities for others.
The institution’s chairman of the Board of Management (BOM), Mr, Bob Ndubi hinted in his speech that they are developing a new strategic plan in which they envisage to upgrade the institute to a national Polytechnic and appreciated the support they are getting from government and other stakeholders and people of good will to improve the institutions’ standards by day.
Mr. Geofrey Andama, the institute’s Principal confirmed that the institute which started in 2016, has made steady gradual growth and is currently offering over 30 courses spread across the departments of Building, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and electronics Engineering, computing and informatics, Agriculture and Environmental studies, hospitality, business and entrepreneurship amongst others.
“We are proud to release 514 skilled young men and women who are go-getters since they are good in theory and practical skills which will enable them to engage in economically prosperous long-life careers.” Mr. Andama stated.
All the speakers congratulated the graduates for their dedication, tireless efforts, discipline and resilience that saw them excel in the various fields of specialization ready to seize opportunities in the job market.
Ekerubi Gietai TTI with a current population of over 2000 trainees is the first one in Nyamira County to churn out 514 graduates who will now maneuver their way out in the world to use the skills acquired to harness various opportunities to sustain their livelihood.
By Deborah Bochere
