By Richard Kabaraji
Parents in the North Rift region have been challenged to embrace technical and vocational training institutions.
TVET Authority North Rift regional manager Phoebe Makanga says studying in technical institutions enables a learner to acquire skills that help bridge the gaps in the semi-skilled labor force.
However, Makanga cautioned locals on the mushrooming TVET institutions.
She advised them to ensure they only enroll in approved institutions.
“We have seen an increase of cases where parents are being duped into paying thousands of money yet their children are not properly trained,” the TVET Authority regional manager said.
She spoke during the graduation of Equip Africa College in Kitale town.
Similar sentiments were shared by Mount Kenya University (MKU) VC Professor Deogratious Jaganyi.
High education standards for learners
Jagani who spoke at the same event said as private training institutions, they were committed to ensuring that educational standards were upheld in a bid to improve the standards of learners.
“We ensure that our students are given the required standards of training to enable them to undertake their tasks well,” the MKU VC said.
He also expressed the need to improve middle level workforce to enable the country to cater for domestic and export markets.
“As a country, we are ripe for labor export. We have seen many countries would like to import workers especially those in the health sector so we urge all those training institutions to improve on their curriculum and churn out qualified personnel to meet the growing market,” he said.
Meanwhile, the County Government of Trans Nzoia has pledged to work with public and private institutions to tap into the qualified workforce.
The County Executive Committee Member for Education Stanley Kirui has pledged support in ensuring that such institutions thrive.
“We will give such institutions 100% support and to start with is the Ksh150 million bursary support for needy students and giving them opportunities in our health facilities,” Kirui said.
“We will need more workers and look forward to such training institutions to fill these gaps,” he added.
The county recently operationalized the newly constructed Kitale Level Five Hospital as well as other middle-level health facilities.
