Looming row in management of TVETs

A fresh row is looming in the managements of TVET institutions. [Photo, Standard]
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She added: “Secondly, approved recruitment for 1000 trainers. The process to start immediately. We will halt deployment of principals till January so as to include those who retired and willing to come back. Have a merry Christmas and happy New year!!” And yesterday Ms Mutungi declined to make an official commitment over her statement, but clarified that she would only comment on the matter ‘after receiving official communication from the Director of TVET’ “The only thing I told my members was that I will give them official communication from the director. I cannot speak by word of mouth,” she said.For More of This and Other Stories, Grab Your Copy of the Standard Newspaper.
Yesterday, an official from the State Department of TVET in the Ministry of Education confirmed that there were plans to recall the retirees, but such a move had not been fully formalized. “As at now we treat that information as rumours because there is no official communication yet, but such talks can be heard from the corridors,” he said.SEE ALSO :Get ‘jua kali’ sector back on track to increase job opportunities
KATTI members who spoke on condition of anonymity said the move would deny fresh graduates an opportunity to get absorbed. A principal from TVET institution in Nyanza noted that there were thousands of graduates who have not been absorbed as from 2006, and who are supposed to be given priority in the recruitment. “What new thing would come from retirees who have been in service for over 30 years? This is an insult to the young graduates who need jobs. And if the senior managers could not mentor people to take over when they retire then they failed and should not be allowed back to the institutions,” he said. Other principals said the move would bring management wrangles within the institutions as principals returning from retirement still have interests in the management of the institutions they headed. “Some of the principals who retired in 2018 have handed over to the new heads, who mostly happen to be their deputies, and we just wonder if they (the retirees) will be able to effectively operate under people who were just recently taking their orders,” said a principal.SEE ALSO :Agency approves 278 courses in new TVET curriculum
He claimed that some TVET institutions were implementing multi-million projects, which the former heads want to have stakes in. The TVET heads vowed to oppose the move so as to give room for fresh graduates, even as they admitted that there were shortage of staffs in the institutions.Do not miss out on the latest news. Join the Standard Digital Telegram channel HERE.