Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago has urged parents to enroll their children in Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions after completing secondary education in order to equip them with practical skills for employment and self-reliance.
Speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony held at Kapkoiga Girls Secondary School in Kesses Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County, Mandago said the government had put in place programmes aimed at empowering the youth through technical training and skills development.
“Parents should ensure their children join Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions after completing secondary school so that they can acquire practical skills for employment and self-reliance,” said Mandago.
He warned against allowing learners to remain idle at home after completing Form Four, noting that technical training would enable them to secure employment opportunities or venture into self-employment.
The Senator also defended the current university funding model, saying it was designed to support students from vulnerable and low-income families.
“The university funding model is ensuring that every child in the Republic of Kenya whose parents cannot afford school fees has their education guaranteed by the Government of Kenya,” Mandago said.
He explained that the programme supports needy students from the first year to the fourth year of study, including orphaned learners and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
At the same time, the Senator praised the administration of President William Ruto for implementing reforms aimed at transforming the education sector and aligning learning with the demands of the modern economy.
Mandago termed the Competency-Based Curriculum as the most suitable education system for the country, arguing that previous curricula emphasized content that was no longer relevant to the current job market and industrial growth.
“The Competency-Based Curriculum is the best system because it equips learners with relevant skills needed for industrialization, job creation and economic transformation,” he added.
He noted that the government was focusing on industrialization through the establishment of industrial parks and Special Economic Zones, alongside policies aimed at attracting industries into the country.
According to the Senator, a modern education system was critical in producing the skilled workforce required to support economic transformation and job creation.
He further cautioned political leaders against making tribal remarks and profiling communities for political reasons, saying such statements were divisive and undermined national unity.
On the rising fuel prices, Mandago said the challenge was a global issue and not unique to Kenya.
He accused some leaders of using the situation to incite Kenyans instead of offering constructive solutions, while defending the government’s decision to prioritize subsidizing productivity rather than consumption in efforts aimed at stabilizing the economy.
by Fredrick Maritim
