House team raises concern over stalled projects in TVETs

The National Assembly Committee of Education has expressed concern over a high number of stalled projects and pending bills in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

The Julius Melly – led team said the institutions were facing serious infrastructural challenges as numbers of students eying technical skills surge.

Melly said during the committee’s fact-finding tour at Eldoret National Polytechnic and Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) on Tuesday that the institutions were grappling with a number of challenges.

At the Eldoret National Polytechnic, the committee undertook to push the National Treasury to release funds for completion of a 2,000-capacity library, which is 25 per cent complete.

The Eldoret-based institution was found to have properly managed pending bills, but still faced a shortage of 126 trainers.

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He said the challenges which also include a serious shortage of trainers could only be addressed through enhanced funding.

The committee chairman said 300,000 learners were in TVETs and there was need for expansion of workshops, lecture theatres and classrooms among other infrastructural requirements to accommodate increasing numbers.

“Stalled infrastructure projects in TVETs need to be fast-tracked for smooth learning,” Melly said, adding that the countrywide fact-finding mission will inform the budgetary allocations to the technical learning institutions in the next budget.

The Tinderet MP said TVETs should be supported to go out to the industry to certify skilled Kenyans through Recognition of Prior Learning policy.

Eldoret National Polytechnic Chief Principal Charles Koech said the fact-finding visit reaffirmed the institution’s trust in offering technical learning and in accommodating one of the highest number of students. The institution has over 12,000 learners.