State to use Sh16.8b to equip TVET centres, says official

Principal Secretary for Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET), Dr Kevit Desai, being shown how to operate a knitting machine at Sigalagala National Polytechnic on July 8,2019. [Standard]

The Government will spend Sh16.8 billion to equip Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET) institutions. 

Dr Kevit Desai, the Principal Secretary for TVET, said the expenditure under the Kenya-China project will benefit 141 institutions.

The PS spoke yesterday at Sigalagala National Polytechnic during the launch of hospitality management training in clothing technology for trainer of trainers from 24 Tvet institutions.

He said the ministry have already delivered and installed equipment in 110 out of the 141 TVET institutions across the country.

According to the PS, since the roll out of Competency Based Education and Training programmes aligned to the needs of the industry in Tvet institutions 12 months ago, two Tvet institutions have produced over 25 tons of machine spare parts which have been exported to China.

Kevit said the Government has set aside additional funds to construct more technical institutions, saying in the first half of the 2019/20 financial year, each constituency will one.

He said the move will see over one million learners get enrolled in the institutions as from next year, up from the current 180,000 students.

“We have increased capitation from Sh2.5 billion to Sh5.2 billion for infrastructure development in Tvet centres. Another Sh4 billion has been set aside for the Tvet Higher Education Loans Board (Helb),” said Kevit.

The Kenya Technical Training Institutes chairman for Western region Tom Mulati said the ongoing training in clothing technology will cost about Sh8.9 million.

Mr Mulati, who is also the principal of Sigalagala National Polytechnic, said the training will be conducted by Avic International Holdings, a Chinese firm that has specialty in clothing technology.