Sh400m set aside to revamp polytechnics, boost education

Education Executive Violet Amugira unveils a task force report during a past function at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega town. There are concerns that polytechnics in the county lack facilities and instructors. [PHOTO: CHRISPEN SECHERE/STANDARD]

Mumias; Kenya: The county government has set aside more than Sh400 million for its education department to boost polytechnics.

This comes amid concerns over a lack of instructors and the poor state of most of the 45 polytechnics that offer youths training, especially those unable to continue with secondary school or tertiary education.

Education Executive Violet Amugira said Sh120 million would be used to subsidise tuition fees for students.

She also said Sh60 million would go towards buying modern equipment for all polytechnics to ensure quality education.

Speaking to The Standard, she noted that the county government was committed to improving infrastructure in the institutions to ensure learners acquired skills and knowledge designed for the job market.

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“We have allocated Sh100 million as salaries for staff in these polytechnics. We have also advertised 188 positions for instructors and hope to hire before the year ends,” she said.

A spot check of the institutions by The Standard revealed that most polytechnics were ill-equipped, understaffed and financially constrained.

Malaha Youth Polytechnic in Mumias East constituency offers courses in carpentry, building technology, tailoring, automotive engineering, welding and metal processing technology, but lacks equipment in the workshops.

“We have few facilities for practicals and are forced to combine first and second years in one lesson during a practical lesson,” said Kizito Wawire, the automotive engineering instructor at the institution.

Principal Jacqueline Ochiemo says the institution faced various challenges despite serving more than 170 students.

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“The institution has seven teachers; three are on contract, three are employed by the board of management and one is a Government-employed teacher. There are no instructors in the departments and the county and national governments should intervene to employ more,” Ms Ochiemo said.

Jackson Wawire, a first year welding engineering student at the institution, said despite the lack of facilities and staff, he together and nine other students had acquired skills to help them become self-reliant.

“We do not have facilities, especially machines for practicals, but we have acquired enough skills that we can put to use once we complete our courses,” he said.

The situation is worse at Bunyala Youth Polytechnic in Navakholo constituency and Murhanda County Polytechnic in Shinyalu, as they lack infrastructure and instructors, and depend on the community to sustain them.

But assembly member Dennis Wekesa said part of the Sh11 million received from the county for development in the wards would be used to build classrooms.