Butula MP Joseph Oyula has challenged parents in Busia to champion Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses to help their children acquire relevant skills favourable to the local and international labour markets.
Speaking at Butula TVET, Oyula urged parents to take advantage of the institution in the area and embrace technical courses that empower youths with self-reliance skills which are more resourceful and guarantees self-employment.
“It is time for the nation to embrace the role of tertiary and technical training to attain vision 2030 national development goals. We must shift the dialogue from the populist view of white-collar jobs which are highly regarded on university degree qualifications and focus more on skills-oriented approaches that equip our youths with practical skills that match their aspirations and help our country became a middle-income industrialized nation,” noted Oyula.
The meeting brought together all leaders across Butula Sub County who expressed concern over the low enrolment in technical vocational education and training institutions (TVETS) in the county despite huge investment from the county and national governments.
“Despite the millions spent in a bid to equip youths with the necessary skills to gain employment or be self-reliant, the four TVETS institutions in the county continue to work below capacity due to poor enrollment,” noted the law maker.
The sentiments were echoed by Butula TVET principal Carolyn Kwendo who revealed that the government supports the institutes by paying Sh30,000 for every student, with the remaining Sh26,000 paid by the trainees in three instalments.
“The government supports students at the institute with almost half the required fee and the remaining balance students can supplement by either applying for HELB and bursary from county and NG-CDF thus making the education almost free,” she noted.
Butula TVET has 300 students against the target of 1000 four months since the institute was officially opened.
“It is high time that our youth embrace technical training and stop their obsession with white-collar jobs. Today, a person with technical skills earns handsomely compared to one working in an office,” said Kwendo.
Area MCA Simon Maina urged leaders in the area to mop up all students in the Sub-County to ensure 100 per cent transition from secondary to tertiary colleges.
“I will mobilize elected leaders in the area to ensure students who finished form four or primary school and are yet to join any institution enroll here and acquire the skill of their choice that best suits their dreams,” said Maina.
By Absalom Namwalo
