By James Ratemo
A nation that harnesses the full potential of its youth is on a firm development foundation.
Cognisant of this, the Youth Affairs ministry has rolled out various programmes to revitalise and promote youth polytechnics. The programmes focus on expansion, modernisation, curriculum review and training.
A mechanical engineering class at the Kenya Polytechnic, one of the four national polytechnics in Kenya. Photo: File/Standard
The ministry plans to supply 210 polytechnics with tools and equipment worth Sh500,000.Through the Curriculum Research and Development Centre, Kenya Institute of Education, the ministry has developed a curriculum, which addresses the needs and the realities of the labour market.
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The new curriculum, made of separate and flexible modules, allows students to exit and restart training, and multi-skill education.
It will be possible for trainees to progress through the various levels of technical training and qualify for award of technical degree. The curriculum is being piloted in 30 institutions.
The ministry is also supporting infrastructure development in 65 youth polytechnics and plans to include 35 others. The ministry in consultation with the Roads and Public Works ministry is preparing designs and binding documents to facilitate the identification of contractors.
Each institution will get a classroom and workshop at a cost of Sh8.5 million. Additionally, preparation of binding documents for works in 10 institutions funded by the African Development Bank under and Government is advanced.
Service
Every polytechnic will be staffed with Public Service Commission employed instructors and managers. The first lot of 750 instructors and 15 managers were employed in 2006/2007 and deployed to polytechnics across the country. The ministry will continue to allocate grants to the polytechnics to subsidise the salaries of management committees employed staff.
The Youth Affairs ministry is working the Labour and Human Resource Development and Foreign Affairs ministries to establish a programme to assist youth secure jobs in the Middle East.
The initiatives are complemented by the debt for development programme, a partnership between the governments of Kenya and Italy established in 2006. Through the programme, the ministry swap debt for investment in initiatives aimed at poverty reduction.
The project, which spent Sh43 million in the last two years, has developed interventions to improve and rehabilitate polytechnics.
The programme will train 500 teachers and technicians, construct workshops and classrooms and provide essential facilities including water, sanitation, and electricity.
It will also provide to the beneficiary polytechnics, both didactic material and equipment.
Selected
By the end of the 10-year programme, 50 polytechnics in six selected districts will have been revitalised at a cost of Sh1.4 billion.
In the 2007/2008 fiscal years implemented projects in seven polytechnics at a cost of Sh85 million.