The senate committee on education has stressed commitment to ensure Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) across the country, are more strengthened.
Speaking in Trans Nzoia County during an oversight visit where focus was on human resource management, the Committee led by Senator Betty Montet and Vice Chair Prof Margaret Kamar said this will help promote holistic development and equip the next generation with relevant skills.
The Committee outlined the need for counties to prioritise increasing the number of ECDE and VTCs in an effort to ensure more beneficiaries are catered for.
“If our youth are not trained, we will continue to have a growing number of unskilled young people. Those who drop out after primary or secondary school must have an opportunity to gain practical skills,” said Kamar.
Highlighting the importance of skill-based education, Senator Kamar expressed concern that the transition rate from secondary schools to universities in some counties is still low. In Trans Nzoia County for instance, the transition rate stands at 20 percent.
Saying that education is an equalisation factor, Kamar urged parents and guardians to support their children to enroll for technical training as it provides a reliable path to employment and entrepreneurship.
“Every child deserves a chance to learn a skill. Whether they proceed to university or not, VTC’s offer them a sense of direction and dignity,” she said pointing out the need to also invest heavily in early childhood education.
“ECD should be taken seriously because this is when a child’s potential begins to show. It is at this stage that we can tell which direction their talents and abilities are likely to take,” she added.
Applauding Trans Nzoia County for the remarkable strides achieved in improving ECDE and VTCs, the Committee picked out a move by the county to absorb ECDE teachers on Permanent and Pensionable terms describing it as a game changer in the sector as it comes with a bundle of motivation.
“Trans Nzoia has set a commendable example by recognising the importance of early learning. When teachers are well motivated, they give their best to the young ones,” said the Committee Chair.
The Committee was also impressed with the significant emergency of more ECDE centres in Trans Nzoia County between the year 2022 and 2025.
The said period coinciding with the era of Governor George Natembeya, has seen ECDE centres rise to 143, nearly doubling the number since the inception of devolution.
The Governor who was present assured the Senate team that his administration remains committed to strengthening the county’s education sector, revealing that starting 2025-2026 Financial Year, tuition in VTC’s will be free.
Other members of the Committee who were present were Laikipia Senator John Kinyua and Taita Taveta counterpart Johnes Mwaruma.
By Isaiah Nayika
