Dr Margaret Mwakima, principal secretary of the state’s Department of Vocational and Technical Training (VTT), has said that a plan to hire 3,000 TVET trainers was underway to fill the existing void and make the institutions play a vital role in national development.
Speaking at Kisumu National Polytechnic during the 9th graduation ceremony, PS said that enrollment in TVET institutes increased from 55,945 in 2013 to 249,316 in 2021.
Mwakima attributed the increase in the government’s commitment to expanding the sector, which increased the number of institutions from 52 in 2013 to 238 in 2021 at a cost of 10.6 billion.
He said the Sh10.3 billion capitation for students and the Sh11.1 billion Higher Education Loan Board (HELB) has rekindled interest in TVET institutions. Mwakima also said that the government has provided a conditional grant of $2 billion to Vocational Training Colleges (VTCs) to increase enrollment.
He said the money being sent directly to the counties would ensure that the institutions offer standard and quality programs to benefit youth across the country.
“There is a need to train a significant group of technologists, technicians and artisans in TVET institutes to achieve the aspirations in the socio-economic development of the country. Hence, TVET institutes are expected to design programs to bridge the identified skill gaps in the dynamic industry,” she said.
Kisumu Governor Professor Anyang Nyong’o has requested the government to ban the conversion of TVET institutions into universities. Mwakima also said that the government has provided a conditional grant of $2 billion to Vocational Training Colleges (VTCs) to increase enrollment.
He said the money being sent directly to the counties would ensure that the institutions offer standard and quality programs to benefit youth across the country.
“There is a need to train a significant group of technologists, technicians and artisans in TVET institutes to achieve the aspirations in the socio-economic development of the country. Hence, TVET institutes are expected to design programs to bridge the identified skill gaps in the dynamic industry,” she said.
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o has requested that the government stop the conversion of TVET institutions into universities. He said that institutions play a vital role in bridging various skill gaps in the country and his county government is expanding VTCs to increase enrollment.
“In the financial year 2020-2021, we have set up six VTCs to bring the total to 26. We are supporting needy learners with bursaries and scholarships to join the institutions,” he said.
