Leaders and education stakeholders in Nyandarua County have decried low number of students in the region enrolling to Technical Vocational Education Training centre to acquire requisite skills needed for the country development.
While urging the youths to embrace courses offered at TVET institutions, Nyandarua County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich regretted that despite millions of funds being pumped into the institutions enrolment still remained a challenge.
Cherutich who was speaking during Nyandarua Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) open day, Friday lamented that only 1980 students were enrolled in the 15 TVETs institution spread across the county.
“The issue of enrolment still remains a challenge, like here in this institution we have a total number of 1400 students and about 700 of them have been sent by the National Youth Service to train,” added Cherutich noting that the institution had a capability of hosting more than 5000 students.
The county commissioner urged the community members and education stakeholders to reinforce their career guidance to youth in the regions in order to increase enrollment noting that out of 14,419 candidates who sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in the county last year only 2503 are eligible to join public universities.
“The government has invested heavily in equipping the institutions as it was key in promoting economic and social development in the country and it will continue to give the Shs 30 ,000 capitation to every student in the institutions,” noted Cherutich.
The administrator at the same noted that it was the intention of the National government to promote the institution (NIST) to a National polytechnic.
On her part Nyandarua Deputy Governor Cecilia Mbuthia called on the youths to take advantage of every opportunities provided to them for growth.
“It is important for every youth to acquire a skill in a certain profession even before focusing on something else. As the youth of today you should take advantage of this opportunities as you have help of bursaries and even the Higher Education Loan Boards is also aiding you with loans,” said the Deputy Governor.
She noted that the county administration will continue supporting the youths in the TVETS through bursary allocations and offering them with industrial attachments.
County Director for education Nelson Sifuna noted that unlike before when there were wasted academic grades the government had provided platforms where even those who scored grade ‘E’ can acquire skills.
He added that with a grade ‘E’ a student could still move up to a degree level only that one would have to take a longer route.
By Jesse Mwitwa
