Stakeholders in the education sector on Monday started campaigns to increase enrollment to vocational training centres in Turkana County.
Chief officer for Education, Sports and Social protection Pauline Lokuruka led top officials of the department and partners in launching a campaign aimed at increasing enrollment to the seven vocational training institutions in Turkana.
The event which was held at the Lodwar Vocational Training Center is part of the initiative by the County Government of Turkana to maintain a steady supply of learners to the vocational institutions by ensuring that potential learners can immediately spot the value of technical skills.
Lokuruka said, “scores of young people in Turkana are out of gainful employment and entrepreneurship ventures due to lack of technical skills which can be readily acquired by enrolling in the vocational training institutions established by the County.”
The chief officer noted that lack of information on eligibility for enrollment, limited scholarships opportunities and negative attitude towards vocational education were the main factors contributing to the low uptake of vocational training.
Lokuruka added that her department will also consider allocating the county bursary fund to the county’s vocational institutions in a bid to supplement the participation of donor agencies and program partners sponsoring learners in Turkana.
On his part, the County Director for Vocational Training Stephen Eregae said that the campaign will involve road shows, stakeholders meetings, consultation with local leadership and involvement of local media in passing the message to the persons considered as eligible candidates.
Eregae added that campaign teams with members drawn from all the relevant sectors had already been formed in readiness to execute the plan aimed at stimulating the January 2021 intake through face to face interaction and use of local radios.
While expressing awareness of the work done by Mercy Corps project at Kaaleng Kaikor vocational centre in promoting enrollment of girls and Women in Turkana North, Eregae said that the participation of partner agencies has been phenomenal hence the need for continuous engagement.
At the same time deputy director of vocational training Losuru Andrew said the involvement of partners such as Echami Aito, Sapcone, National Ministry of Education, UNICEF, Mercy Corps, Child Protection, KNUT and others was intentional to leverage on their position of influence in encouraging enrollment and back to school messages to the target population.
Others who attended and addressed the meeting were Charles Rasare ( Manager, Lodwar Vocational training centre), Alice Lomodei ( Mercy Corps), Joseph Imuton, Josephat Ewaat (KNUT) Jacob Eweet (County Vocational training officer), TSC and UNICEF officials among others.
By Peter Gitonga
