Nyandarua County Senator John Methu has called upon the government to increase funding for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions (TVETs) across the country.
Methu noted that there was need for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure, quality of training and capacity-building for students, while expressing concern over the current low funding for TVETs, citing the 2023-2024 budgetary allocation of Sh5.2 billion against the recommended Sh8.8 billion.
The Senator pointed out that such gross underfunding had adversely affected overall national enrolment standards, leading to the declining number of students joining major TVETs.
He called for concerted efforts by the government and other stakeholders to ensure adequate funding for the Ministry of Education to enable local tertiary institutions to enrol and accommodate more learners.
The Senator was speaking at the Nyandarua National Polytechnic during the institution’s Alumni Annual general Meeting (AGM), where he was the Chief Guest.
During the forum, local leaders called on alumni of various schools in the Nyandarua Country to support their former learning institutions as a way of giving back to the community.
The National Polytechnic Chief Principal Dr Jane Gitau urged the alumni to take bold steps to strengthen the institution’s endowment fund to enhance their ability to support scholarships, research and innovation.
Her sentiments were echoed by Nyandarua Chief Officer for Education Dr. Pachomius Wambugu, who urged current and former students to strengthen their networks through reunions and give back to their former schools.
This, he said, would go a long way in helping bridge the financial strains affecting institutions of higher learning.
This comes at a time when universities and other tertiary institutions are grappling with underfunding, occasioning strikes from lecturers and other cadres of staff over unpaid CBAs.
Wambugu called on former students to work hand in hand with the university, school or college that they formerly attended to uplift their respective academic standards, empower students and scale innovation for Kenya’s future.
He further urged the alumni of various institutions to mentor the current crop of students, offer internships and scholarships and also support research.
By Kimani Tirus
