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TVETs hold key to employment opportunities – Government claims

Friday, December 9th, 2022 20:01 | By
Joseph Kanyi, the Deputy Director Technical Vocational Education and Training during the graduation ceremony at Cascade Institute of Hospitality, Thika. PHOTO/Mathew Ndung'u

Institutions that fall under Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) still hold the key to ending unemployment in the country, the government maintains.

According to TVET deputy director Joseph Kanyi, these training institutions, both public and private, have ensured thousands of young school leavers become self-employed or get jobs in the informal sector.

Kanyi spoke at a graduation ceremony for 200 students of Cascade Institute of Hospitality in Thika as recent figures released by Kenya National Statistics Bureau showed that over 10 million Kenyans were unemployed.

"In fact, even if one has a degree from a university you are advised to go to your nearest vocational training institution and learn skills like welding, electronics, tailoring or something else. You never know this could be your lifeline," said Kanyi.

He maintained that the government takes informal sector seriously in its efforts to eradicate joblessness and added that private training institutions play a key role in achieving this goal.

In the same breath, Kanyi revealed that the government has embarked on a plan to finalize the incomplete technical training institutes in the 290 constituencies across the country.

"In these institutions, we expect Kenyans to take absolute advantage of the government's subsidized skill-based courses to better their employability and or start self income generating activities," said Kanyi.

His sentiments were echoed by Cascade Institute Principal Joan Maiyo and Simon Ng'ang'a who stressed the need for learners to take up technical courses to alleviate joblessness that has seen Kenyas struggle after finishing higher education courses.

"We are encouraging our students to pursue courses that are relevant to the job market and while at it, maintain the drive to offer solutions to challenges bedeviling our country," said Maiyo.

"As an institution, we undertake to ensure all our students either become employers or link them with employers both locally and internationally. That is actually why we only train a manageable number of students to ensure we accommodate all of them," stated Ng'ang'a.

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