Advocates TVET Enrollment For Embu Youth By Former MP Mbeere South
Advocates TVET Enrollment For Embu Youth By Former MP Mbeere South. Education stakeholders in Embu County are urged to take decisive action to enhance the technical skills of local youth. Former Mbeere South MP, Geoffrey King’ang’i, has called for a focused campaign to enroll school leavers in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutes (TVETs). This initiative aims to address the growing need for technical skills in both local and international job markets.
The Urgent Need For TVET Enrollment
Geoffrey King’ang’i has highlighted the critical need for education stakeholders to identify school leavers without technical course aptitude and collaborate with technical institutions to enroll them in short-term courses. King’ang’i emphasized that technical skills obtained from Embu-based TVETs are not only marketable locally but also hold significant value internationally.
Addressing The Skills Gap In Embu
King’ang’i pointed out that the low skill levels among Embu residents stem from a lack of awareness about TVET opportunities and the allure of alternative occupations such as Muguka (miraa) farming, bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) business, and substance abuse. He questioned why many young school leavers in Embu are overlooking commercially viable and industrially lucrative short courses available at TVETs in their villages.
The Impact on Employment And Economic Growth
According to King’ang’i, Embu County faces a shortage of technically qualified staff, particularly in the expanding construction sector. He warned that this gap could hinder economic growth and job creation. To address this, he suggested that administrators collaborate with school management and parents to identify idle youth who have not enrolled in technical colleges. He also recommended mobilizing financial and technical resources from various sources, including churches, the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), the county government, donor organizations, and individual philanthropists.
Opportunities Abroad
King’ang’i also emphasized the risk of Embu youth missing out on employment opportunities abroad. The Kenyan government has secured significant openings in countries like Germany, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates for technical labor. By acquiring relevant technical skills, Embu youth could benefit from these international job opportunities.
TVET Offering Flexible And Diverse Courses
In response to the growing demand for technical skills, TVETs in Embu and the Mt. Kenya region continue to offer a range of flexible short courses. For instance, the Nyeri National Polytechnic (NNP) provides various three- to six-month courses in fields such as:
- Firefighting Pump Operation
- Chemical Production
- Dairy Farm Management
- Meat Technology
- Information Technology
- Business Studies and Entrepreneurship
- Building, Engineering, and Construction Skills
Additionally, NNP offers courses in clean energy, including wiring, electrical, and solar installation skills, each with a duration of three months. The institution also provides accreditation for individuals with prior skills, such as motorbike mechanics, seeking formal certification.
Conclusion
By focusing on the enrollment of youth in TVET programs, Embu County can better equip its young population with the technical skills needed to thrive in both local and international labor markets. Geoffrey King’ang’i’s call to action underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to address the skills gap and harness the potential of Embu’s youth for sustainable economic growth.
