Youth Encouraged to Go for Skills-Based Training as TVET Shifts Focus Towards Practical Learning
This sensitization campaign is expected to continue across the rest of Murang’a County as the government seeks to improve enrollment in TVET institutions for practical job-ready skills among much more youth.
Kigumo Technical Training Institute Principal, Jennifer Gachago, said the government’s commitment to technical education is evident in the growing number of TVET institutions and improved training facilities across the country. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Murang’a County residents have been advised to take their children to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions as one of the government’s moves to push training from classroom to skills-based training.
Officials from the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education Training brought the sensitisation outreach to the Saturday event at Kigumo Technical Training Institute. According to TVET officer Catherine Ngari, they are prioritising practical training in order to equip students leaving institutions with the skills needed by the current labour market for employability.
TVET training involves moving institutionally from classwork, Ngari explained. Learners acquire a background into workshops in which practical hands-on experiences would quite easily morph into formal employment or self-employment. He encouraged the youths, especially the freshly graduated Form Four students who risk hanging around home without being occupied to take advantage of the openings at the technical institutions. In addition, the government has invested heavily in modern equipment and upgrading workshops, as well as in competency-based curricula to align training with industry needs.
On the other hand, Principal Jennifer Gachago of Kigumo Technical Training Institute stated that the government pledges in technical education were clearly reflected in the fast-growing TVET institutions and improvements in training infrastructure across the country. There are more than 240 TVET institutions nationally, according to Gachago and they are all designed to facilitate equipping the learners with relevant practical skills.
Gachago encouraged graduates from secondary schools to take into consideration courses that are in line with their interests and abilities. Beyond that, she pointed out that Kigumo Technical Training Institute has a slew of market-driven programs, buttressed with modern workshops and specialized training machinery at her disposal. More than five TVET institutions have been established in Murang’a County alone, which means that each of these institutions is well equipped and capable of providing learning opportunities to hundreds of young people.
The delays in government capitation funds release were, however, mentioned by the principal as some of the challenges that affect learners from financially challenged backgrounds. In many cases, students have had to suspend their courses, despite readiness, because of such delays.
According to Assistant County Commissioner for Muthithi Division Jonathan Wandera, TVET education is critical in skills development-the keeping of young people engaged away from negative behaviours. He noted that during the active involvement of youths in training, there is a tendency for them to be less preoccupied with issues to do with drug abuse and criminal activities, adding that TVET institutions substantially depend on community safety and social stability.
Welcome to students who came to sensitization forum was the outreach initiative. They argued that technical institution imparts them practical skills which cause them to be independent and improve their chances of getting jobs.
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