Shock of training colleges without teachers, students

Education CS. Amina Mohamed and PS Bellio Kipsang before the National Assembly Education Committee on January 17, 2019. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Shocking revelations have emerged that 44 multi-billion shilling middle-level colleges are yet to admit students several months after completion.

Many other colleges are severely understaffed, raising questions on quality of teaching in these institutions expected to reduce wastage by absorbing thousands of students.

What is most shocking however is the admission by top ministry officials that the government has now resorted to recalling retired trainers to teach in the newly created colleges several months after some Sh2 billion was approved to hire new staff.

The details emerged Thursday during a special sitting of the National Assembly Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.

Major blow

The development is a major blow to government efforts to absorb more students to the middle-level training colleges.

State Department of Vocational and Technical Education (TVET) Principal Secretary, Kevit Desai said the Ministry is expanding TVET capacity to 3.1 million, up from the current 180,000.

Last year, the ministry projected to absorb 500,000 students to the colleges.

As part of the drive, the government announced that students in middle-level colleges will receive Sh13,600 for upkeep.

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said the annual training cost in TVET has been cut to Sh56,420, down from Sh92,000.

Amina said each student enrolled in TVET institutions will be eligible for loans of up to Sh40,000.

Of these, Sh26,400 will be paid directly to the college to cater for tuition while Sh13,600 will be sent directly to a student’s account.

Helb will provide capitation of Sh30,000 per trainee per year.

However, these efforts are facing serious challenges as it emerged that all the 140 Technical Training Institutes (TTI’s) require a total staff establishment of 6,559.

However, these colleges only have 3,780 trainers, leaving a deficit of 2,779. Some institutions are yet to recruit a single student for lack of trainers.

Documents tabled in Parliament reveal that several Technical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs) that have been established and which require 15 trainers each have none.

The document lists TVCs in Bomet Central, Kerio Valley, Fayya, Kaloleni, Omuga, Ugunja, Belgut, Mabera, Kongoni, Webuye West, Ebukanga, Kajiado East and Marsabit as having no trainers at all.

TVCs in Lodwar, Kiminini, Tetu, Kieni, Ijara, Turkana East, Rangwe, Kimasian, Ravine, Lunga Lunga, Wajir South, Kipsoen, Kinango, Gatundu South and Garsen also have no trainers at all.

Also listed are TVCs in Kajiado North, Kinagop, Lari, Riragiua, Mwatate, Msambweni, Nyakach, Kendege, Kaelo, Mwea and Awach.

A number of TTIs recently established, but are yet to get trainers include Ugenya TTI, which is supposed to have nine trainers.

Moiben,  Kapcherop, David Mbiti Wambuli and Kipkabus Technical and Vocational College, which are also supposed to have nine trainers each, have none.

The document further lists serious shortages with 31 colleges only having one trainer.

Amina was hard pressed to explain why the colleges have not been operationalised after the government pumped in billions of shillings to establish them.

The CS said principals have been posted to the colleges and promised that the institutions will admit students from next month.

She was pressed to explain why retired trainers are being recalled to teach in the colleges instead of hiring new staff with the already budgeted money.

Minimum standards

MPs heard that upon considering the acute shortage of staff, the Public Service Commission (PSC) said the process of hiring new staff would take time.

Amina said it was the recommendation of the PSC that retired trainers be recalled to ensure the institutions maintain minimum standards of operation even as the recruitment of trainers is underway.

“The PSC decided that as a stop gap measure, retired trainers be recalled for a contractual period of one year and be posted to the newly established TVCs to jump start their operations,” said Amina.

Melly however rejected the move, saying that new staff must be hired immediately and posted in the colleges.

“There is no justification to delay hiring the trainers because you have the money already,” said Melly.

Amina however explained that besides addressing the shortage, the retired trainers will mentor the incoming new staff in a well coordinated transition.

It however emerged that the confusion in the middle level colleges was occasioned by the decision to move some trainers from Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to the PSC payroll.

Some 3,780 teachers were proposed to be transferred from TSC payroll to PSC and posted to the Ministry of Education.

Another roadblock was a result of logistics to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) the trainers enjoyed before the transfer to PSC is effected.

Although the decision to move the teachers from TSC was made in June last year, it emerged that the actual transfer was done from July to August last year.

It also emerged that the Sh2 billion budget to hire trainers was slashed by half as the government undertook austerity measures during the first supplementary budget in August last year.

This means that only 1,000 trainers will be hired, leaving a deficit of 1,779. This will still expose some colleges to serious understaffing which will affect quality teaching.

Overall, the Ministry requires Sh3.9 billion between 2018 and 2022 to address the shortage.