The County Government of Kirinyaga has developed 18 new classrooms in various Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in the area.
Governor Anne Waiguru has said that the modernization program, being implemented across the 15 youth polytechnics in the county, is aimed at enabling the institutions to adequately cater for the training needs of the youth.
โThrough vocational education and training, my administration is committed to giving our youth access to skills and technical know-how that will enable them to fit into contemporary labor market or self-employment,โ the governor said.
A total of six dormitories, four ablution blocks, two office blocks, and two workshops have also been constructed under the countyโs polytechnics modernization program. In addition, eight more instructors have been hired to address the gaps in training needs, bringing to 110 the total number of polytechnic instructors in the county.
CBET curriculum
The polytechnics, which currently have an enrolment of about 1,100 trainees, offer various courses including motor vehicle mechanics, electrical installation, masonry, garment making, hairdressing, and beauty, carpentry and joinery, metalwork and fabrication, computer and ICT short courses.
Waiguru said that the county government has also equipped the polytechnics with the relevant tools, teaching and learning materials to ensure that trainees acquire high quality training. Some of the polytechnics that have benefited from new classrooms include Kaitheri, Kiambwe, Kimweas, Kiamikuyu, Kiamwathi, Thome, Kiamuthambi and Ngucui, while Mucii Wa Urata and Nyangati are among those that have gotten new dormitories.
โMy administration will continue investing heavily in expansion of infrastructure and equipment of the polytechnics as well as enhancing home craft activities to facilitate applied technology transfer to our women, youth, and people living with disabilities,โ said the governor.
The governor also pointed out that the polytechnics are already implementing the new Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum that enables trainees to be assessed and certified based on their areas of competence.
The curriculum recognizes that learners have different aptitudes and potential and therefore are certified in the courses in which they excel, other than being judged based on a combination of courses some of which they may be incompetent.
