More Technical Institutions for Better Skilled Workers

The government will establish extra Technical Vocational Education and Training institutions in a bid to bolster technical education in the country, education cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has said.

Prof Kaimenyi disclosed that the government will put up TVET institutions in every constituency beginning this year.

The cabinet secretary, who presided over the 14th graduation ceremony at the Kenya Methodist University (Kemu) in Meru, said 60 TVET institutions will be put up this financial year to provide important alternative education and training of human capital for the country.

“The government has heavily invested in refurbishing and setting up new technical training institutes in every constituency.

We also need to continue promoting middle level courses especially in the TVET institutions as they are key to realising the country's socio-economic agenda,” he said.

ORGANISED CAREER PATH

He also disclosed that the government had established an organised technical and vocational career path, where students will rise from youth polytechnics to technical universities to pursue higher levels of education in their respective areas of interest.

“For the country to prosper economically, we have to make use of skills churned from these middle-level institutions, “said Prof Kaimenyi.

He added that employability was much higher for students who took technical courses that those who take purely academic courses.

At the same time, the cabinet secretary has directed the Commission for University Education (CUE) to strictly enforce guidelines on university education.

He said the higher education agency should clamp down on bogus institutions that offer substandard certificates.

REGULATE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

“CUE has recently formulated and gazetted regulations to govern and regulate university education. Towards this end, we don't expect our children to receive unrecognised degree certificates or doubtful training.

Therefore CUE must from now on, inspect and close all institutions which don't meet the registration requirements,” said Prof Kaimenyi.

According to the CS, the government is also planning to establish a “universities fund” from which private universities will borrow loans and receive grants in a move aimed at improving the quality of education offered in these institutions.

The National Commission for Science and Technology and Innovations (NCSCTI) funding will also be increased through the yet to be set up National Research Fund in order to boost research by institutions of higher learning.

On his part, Kemu Chancellor Rev Joseph Ntombura called for restraint among the country's political leaders so as to achieve unity in Kenya.

“We are all aware of the political tension in the country. The government and other leaders need to come together and address the real causes of the tension and provide concrete solutions for the betterment of the country,” he said.

More than 3,600 graduands were conferred with degrees and awarded diplomas during the ceremony.

Courtesy DN