By S, KNA
The government has launched Jukwaa la Wasomi across all counties designed to strengthen security and create a conducive learning environment in institutions of higher learning.
During the launch in Kakamega County, County Commissioner, Meru Mwangi, said the forum that brings together security agencies, students, tutors and other key stakeholders’ aims to strengthen safety as well as address other pertinent issues facing students and their institutions so as to ensure holistic academic growth.
‘‘We are here because we want to ensure all stakeholders in education fraternity right from the secondary schools to Technical and Vocational Institutions (TVETS) , Colleges and Universities come together to outline challenges they are facing and seek to find a common solution with a view to promoting peace and tranquility in those institutions,” he added.
Mwangi noted that although the government has put in place various educational policies to advance learning, there were some challenges learners were facing that the government is seeking to hear from them in order to find lasting solutions.
During the forum, students drawn from various tertiary institutions, colleges and Masinde Muliro University of Science and technology (MMUST) raised concerns over shortage of or inadequate accommodation, insecurity as among key challenges they are facing.
Speaking at the forum, student leaders from Maturu Technical, Vocational and Educational Training Institute, Juma Taraja and Eugene Otieno, from Navakholo Medical Training College (KMTC) raised concern over increased attacks on students due to lack of security lights on main roads and market centres where they reside as well as and lack of accommodation in most of the institutions.
“Our institution lacks a boarding section and most of us, especially girls are prone to attacks by goons, we urge that government puts up accommodation in our institutions,” said Otieno.
“The road from Navakholo to Mbande is in pathetic state, it becomes almost impassable during rainy seasons, we appeal to the government to address, since it’s a drawback to many students joining the institute,” lamented Patrick Wafula from Kabras polytechnic.
Vanessa, a student leader from MMUST raised concern that most of the over 28,000 students at the University were residing outside and were prone to attacks due to lack of security lights along main roads especially because the areas is a tea zone where students reside.
“A number of our comrades have also been hit by fast moving vehicles at the University gate while crossing the busy Kisumu- Kakamega highway,” she lamented.
“We appeal to the government to mark the area as a Zebra crossing as the first step but as a lasting solution put up a footbridge,” added Vanessa.
Samuel Omedi said Kakamega polytechnic was currently facing an acute water shortage, proposing for sinking of a borehole to alleviate the challenge
County Commissioner, Meru Mwangi, however, challenged TVET’s and universities to make their courses relevant to the market in order to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical job skills.
“Institutions must collaborate with industry, develop market-responsive courses that foster innovation by invest in new technologies, and equip students with practical and specialized skills needed for today’s economy,” said the CC
The stakeholders resolved to hold quarterly meetings in order to review progress.