Govt to set up 290 technical institutes

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has said that Technical Training Colleges will be set up in all 290 constituencies across the country by the end of the next financial year.

Speaking while officially releasing the 2015 Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education (KCSE) examination results at Mitihani House, Matiang’i confirmed that the government has set aside over Sh16 billion to see the plan through.

The CS said the move would ensure students who fail to join universities and colleges get an opportunity to further their education.

Matiang’i also noted that in the last two years, the government has spent more than Sh2 billion to upgrade the already existing technical institutions.

“It is sad to note that the enrolment in these technical institutions is far below their capacity. Each institution can hold about 1,000 students,” said the Education CS, adding: “Parents and guardians need to be informed that there are technical institutions.”

According to Matiang’i, the institutions will ensure that 290,000 students enroll countrywide to attain technical skills.

Parliamentary Education Committee Chairperson Sabina Chege urged candidates that had not made the cut to universities to enroll in technical institutes.

“We have technical and training institutions. We cannot all fit in white-collar jobs. Those unable to join university can pursue that level,” said Chege.

According to Matiang’i, only a third of the students who sat for the 2015 KCSE exam attained university entry qualifications.

“We can do better. We need to know why performance is poor. Is it the curriculum? Is it issues of teachers’ absenteeism or issues of availability of text materials?” posed Matiang’i.

The KCSE 2015 results show the number of candidates with a mean grade of A dipped from over 3,000 in 2014 to 2,600 in 2015.

The ten subjects which registered a decline in performance included Mathematics alternative B, History and government, CRE, IRE, Electricity, drawing & design, computer studies, Arabic, Kenyan Sign language and Business Studies.

Thirteen subjects recorded a mean of 50 per cent and below; these included English, Kiswahili, Mathematics alternative A and B, Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

The Education CS has formed an inter-agency team to look into the performance of candidates for the last three years.