A section of the students from Chepkorio Vocational Training Centre during the graduation ceremony.
With the rising rate of lack of employment, the youth have been urged to acquire technical skills which would help them be self employed in absence of job openings.
Speaking during a graduation ceremony of more than 200 students at Chepkorio Vocational Training College in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Vocational and Technical Training (TVET) Deputy Director Irene Kamau said the government was promoting practical training that would improve youth employment in both public and private sectors.
The Deputy Director further praised Elgeyo Marakwet County for sponsoring students joining TVET institutions through bursary funds.
More than 2700 secondary, college and university students from needy families benefitted from Sh27 million bursary funds from the County.
Mrs Kamau said Technical and Vocational Education and Training is a key initiatives in achieving Vision 2030 and key to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s big four pillar. She said the government has allocated Ksh2.5 billion to support TVET institutions in the country.
“There are a lot of projects going on in the country and this is where your skills will be needed.
I urge those who have completed secondary and primary education to join the TVET’s around because the skills needed are not enough,” she said.
She cited the upcoming of Kipsaiya and Kimwarer dams as the next stop for people with technical skills in Elgeyo Marakwet. Arror dam will cost Sh38.5 billion and Kimwarer in Keiyo South Sh28 billion.
“The welders and electricians who will work on the sites will come from those of you who have graduated here today. I am impressed by the number of those who have graduated today. The technical sector still requires a lot of labour force,” she added.
Elgeyo Markwet Education and Technical Training Chief Executive Member of Education Edwin Kisang said the county had recorded a 47 percent increase in enrolment in TVET colleges in the county since the inception of devolution.
He said: “This is encouraging and as a result we have increased the number of instructors in all our 11 registered colleges.”
He said through the subsidised tuition fee the enrolment is expected to increase in the coming year which has seen the county construct more VTC across the Wards.
“We are establishing more vocational training centres to help tap the skills that would have otherwise gone to waste in the villages,” he said.
RECENT COMMENTS