Principal Secretary at the State Department of Vocational and Technical Training Dr Dinah Mwinzi. [Photo|nation.co.ke]
Devolved units have been challenged to put more emphasis on financially supporting students at Technical and Vocational Training Institutions across the country.
Principal Secretary at the State Department of Vocational and Technical Training Dr Dinah Mwinzi says with the government set to implement free secondary school education, there is a need for counties to channel bursaries to TVET students.
Speaking during the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) graduation ceremony in Eldoret on Friday, Dr Mwinzi noted that graduands from TVET institutions will play a critical role for the country to achieve its development blueprint, vision 2030.
"We understand that there has been some money set aside by counties to help needy students in secondary schools and now that the government has said education will be free beginning January, we urge counties to channel those bursaries students in TVET institutions," said Dr Mwinzi.
The PS further called for the training of more teachers for Technical and Vocational institutions so as to ensure graduands have the required skills and help drive the country's development agenda.
At the same time, Planning Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera said the government has completed construction of 60 new TVET centres.
This is in accordance with the government's plan to have at least two TVET institutions in each of the 290 constituencies across the country.
He added that the construction of 70 other TVET institutions is currently ongoing.
"The first phase of 60 new TVETs is complete and the second phase of 70 others is under construction as we speak now," Irungu said.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to not only setting up the institutions but also ensuring they are adequately equipped to offer quality education.
"We know TVETs are key for the country to achieve vision 2030 of being fully industrialized and this is why we are investing heavily in those institutions," the Planning PS noted.
"Currently we are partnering with People's Republic of China supplying state-of-the-art equipment to all our Technical and Vocational Education institutions," he added.