Baringo launches mop-up exercise for VTC students

Kabarnet,

Wednesday, October 4, 2023,

KNA, by Benson Kelio

The County government of Baringo has launched an ambitious drive to enroll learners across all the 30 wards into Vocational Training Centers (VTCs).

Speaking when he officially launched a marketing and publicity campaign for Baringo VTCs at Kabarnet town on Tuesday, Deputy governor Eng Felix Kimaiyo said the exercise is geared towards encouraging more youths from the county to embrace vocational education.

Eng Kimaiyo, flanked by County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and Vocational Training Rev Symon Kiuta noted that the move was informed by the fact the county has been recording a low enrolment of students in VTCs which currently stands at paltry 26 percent.

The deputy governor said the county administration has teamed up with key stakeholders to reverse the trend by encouraging parents, guardians and the students themselves to take keen interest in vocational training which he says apart from its shorter study period prepares learners to be formally employed or self-employed.

“We are looking at a time when our skilled youth will be able to engage in so many opportunities within the county like servicing all government vehicles and in turn earn themselves incomes,” he said.

Kimaiyo noted that seven new institutions will be completed by June next year to support 15 functional VTCs which are currently offering a wide range of courses like masonry, building works, electrical and electronic technology, metal works, welding, hairdressing, ICT, plumbing, beauty and fashion designs.  

He encouraged the youth to enroll in such institutions saying they have equipped them with modern technologies and the fees was affordable.

“If the problem is the money, we are disbursing bursaries every year thus they pay less, so I don’t see the reason why they can’t join our VTCs in order to have a society with well-trained people,” he said.

The deputy governor at the same time stated that the county has forged partnerships with foreign countries like Germany and South Korea for skill exchange.

Kimaiyo encouraged youth to take serious interest in learning the languages which will be rolled out in due course for them to get the opportunities to work in the two countries.

Reverend Kiuta in his remarks said his department which is currently conducting roadshows and exhibitions as a means of encouraging more youth to join the various VTCs in the county, is targeting to enroll over 5,000 students in the next three years, up from the current 1,326 learners.

The Vocational Training CEC added that gone are the days when people used to look down upon Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) because through them the youth are empowered with skills and are able to employ themselves and also venture to other countries to seek for employment.

“If someone is a standard eight leaver or even a secondary dropout or a form four leaver they have an open door in all our VTCs,” he explained.

Kiuta, while reiterating the sentiments from the deputy governor on courses in foreign languages said the county administration will kick off the program for German VTC students beginning from 1st November while those who wish to study Korean language in order to benefit from opportunities in the East Asian Country, will commence early next year.

Courtesy; KNA