Young people in the Kiambu Sub-county are showing a keen interest in skill-based courses. In response, area Member of Parliament Machua Waithaka has initiated a collaborative effort with the Department of Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the Ministry of Education. The aim is to establish a satellite polytechnic, a project that will make education more accessible to students.
Speaking at Ndumberi stadium in Kiambu town during the graduation ceremony of over 900 students who had successfully trained in National Industrial Training Association (NITA) and National Construction Authority (NCA) certified courses in Plumbing, Cosmetology, Electrical Installation, and Catering, fully paid for by the Kiambu NG-CDF, Machua said that the youths had shown interest in pursuing skill-based courses to empower themselves.
“We have identified Benson Njau Primary School, which has got land to put up a branch of Kiambu National Polytechnic (KINAP), formerly Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), to reach out to youths who are far off the sub-county and would be a challenge to be attending class in the main polytechnic which is situated in Kiambu town,” Machua said.
He said he is working closely with the ministry to finalise the move, which will help youths access skills near their locality.
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He reassured the community that NG-CDF plans to install a fly-over footbridge at KINAP, a safety measure to prevent students from being knocked down by vehicles as they access the institution.
“Students are being knocked by vehicles while entering KINAP, and we have plans of putting up a fly-over footbridge and also put up cabro on the road they use to access their living quarters. These measures are part of our commitment to ensuring the safety of our students as they pursue their education.” he said
He said that parents of day secondary schools will be paying Sh 2,000 per term and are reviewing how they will pay Sh 1,000 per term.
“We have been able to ease the school fees burden on parents where parents are only supposed to pay Sh 2,000 per term, and soon they will be paying Sh 1,000,” he said.
Munene Njeru, deputy director of TVET, was the chief guest who advised the graduates to take advantage of the various bursary funding opportunities from both government and private entities to further their studies.
“The short courses are a launching pad to your career, but you need to further your studies and take the opportunity to access the various bursary programs being offered by government and private institutions,” he said.
By Felix Wanderi
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