Enrolment declining in youth polytechnics, report says

Education Executive Jemimah Tuja (left) and her Devolution and Administration counterpart Linet Mavu during celebrations to mark International Day for the Girl Child at Ghazi Primary School last year. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Kwale,Kenya: Enrolment in youth polytechnics is dropping despite rising financial investment in these institutions, a report by top education officials says.

Education Executive Jemimah Tuja and Chief Officer Philomena Kirote said despite the fact that the county has invested over Sh51 million for development of youth polytechnics in recent years, the number of children joining such technical institutions continues to decline.

Presenting a status report on vocational training institutions to Governor John Mruttu yesterday, they disclosed that the 24 youth polytechnics in the county have the potential of enrolling about 4,350 students but currently have only 2,250.

Speaking at Mwagafwa Youth Polytechnic in Wundanyi town after the governor officially opened a twin workshop constructed by the county to the tune of Sh9 million, Ms Kirote said some of the institutions have an enrolment of 100 students, far much below the recommended 300.

“The county has invested heavily in constructing workshops and classrooms.

“But parents are letting us down by failing to enrol their children to acquire the relevant skills for employment and self-reliance,“ she said.

NEGATIVE ATTITUDE

“Our efforts are being frustrated by the negative attitude towards youth polytechnics. Some parents claim such institutions are for academic failures.”

The chief officer noted the low enrolment is adversely affecting the disbursement of subsidised youth polytechnic funds to the institutions.

“The allocation and distribution of the funds depends on the total number of students the institution has.

“The more the number of students the more funds will be allocated,” she added.

Wundanyi Mbale Ward Representative Raymond Mwangola said the Sh1 million set aside as ward bursaries for students in youth polytechnic has not been utilised.

“The county has set aside bursaries for students in polytechnics but the funds are still lying uncollected.

“Students can now access bursaries and educational loans,” said Mr Mwangola.

Mr Mruttu said polytechnics play an important role in nation building and called on parents to encourage their children to join the institutions.

“Those who have failed to secure places in secondary schools should be enrolled in youth polytechnics so as to be self reliant in life,” he said