The State Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is set to revise policies and frameworks in order to conform to the changing times.
According to the Principal Secretary (PS) Esther Muoria, the government is planning to ensure that the training done by technical institutions is skills-driven since graduates are only going to be relevant in the job market if they have the requisite skills.
Muoria spoke while at Kisumu National Polytechnic where she inspected the multibillion cotton hub that was under construction.
“Through TVET, we are keen to equip the youth with the requisite skills and competencies for targeted economic growth and prosperity of our nation,” said Dr Muoria.
Muoria expressed her satisfaction regarding the progress of the project as at that time.
The PS said that the government will recruit more trainers to enhance quality training and well-grounded trainees who are competent and ready to join the job market.
Muoria said that the Ministry had launched a channel that would enable TVET graduates to access job opportunities outside the country.
She called on graduands to take advantage of the Hustler Fund and the Youth Enterprise Funds to launch startups and create job opportunities for fellow youth and enhance social-economic development.
On her part the college’s Chief Principal Catherine Kelonye revealed that the Clothing and Textile Technology department which spearheaded the programme was already working with stakeholders like tailers, small and medium entreprises (SME’s) and designers.
She revealed that the institution was in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with partner institutions in the area to implement the project
“Already, we are working with Ahero Polytechnic and we look to partner with several other institutions once the funds are available,” said Chief Principal Catherine Kelonye.
She revealed that the funding under the World Bank’s East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) is intended to support the development and delivery of demand driven TVET programs for technician training in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania in the sectors of ICT, energy, transport and manufacturing.
According to Kelonye, 65 per cent of the funds will be used in purchasing equipment and building of the required infrastructure.
Kisumu National Polytechnic has been identified as a centre of excellence for textiles under the programme and is seen as an institution that will work with other technical and vocational training institutions undertake revision of the sector.
The project is intended to rejuvenate the sector from farm level to fashion exhibition stage.
A plan is in place to ensure the Kisumu National Polytechnic develops a cluster of TVET institutions to jointly utilize the latest technology to revive the deteriorating textiles industry.