While Kenyans are astonished at the current economic situation the country is facing, a lot of youth continue to protest the challenges facing them from all directions.
Most of them are oblivious to the fact that Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges (TVET) are the go-to for skill acquisition and life-changing ideas.
President William Samoei Ruto was on record during his campaign period, telling Kenyans about the importance of the various TVETs established in Kenya since 2013 in different regions.
Available institutions
As of 2020, Kenya had 2,301 TVET institutions, keeping an upward trend from previous numbers.
Some are private, others are under county governments, and others are under the national government.
The other vocational training colleges are under the county Government. The aim is to eradicate poverty by improving skills through education in an affordable way.
The challenge
Unfortunately, even as the Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) struggles to ensure youth are placed in various TVETs in Kenya, majority of them do not report due to the lack of information that they were actually called to certain TVETs.
Though these institutions are usually equipped with the required equipment for proper training, they remain to run in low numbers.
This is because some potential students do not know how to transfer to their preferred TVETs around them.
Discriminating against TVETs in rural areas is also common, while others have alternatives to join private Universities in Kenya, thus leaving their positions vacant without notice.
In Baringo county, where there are 15 TVETs, Eldama Ravine Technical and Vocational College (ERTVC) is one of the colleges facing a lot of rejection from the community due to the people’s lack of information on how important such a TVET is.
Tanui’s strategies in Baringo
ERTVC principal, Mr. Eric Tanui, has been working his fingers to the bone to ensure the locals in Baringo County and beyond are aware of what courses the college offers.
He also, with the cooperation of students and the government, seeks to inform the public how fee-friendly the institution is.
The government caters for part of the student fee through the placement of students by KUCCPS, which sees them have Ksh 30,000 paid to the school account for tuition, and through students applying for funds from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
In Eldama Ravine, a year’s admission with a capacity of above 300 students only receives an intake of about 60 students. Principal Tanui has turned to outside marketing to sensitize more youth and parents and encourage the walk-in numbers to increase.
Tanui has involved the marketing department and public barazas that the Eldama Ravine Sub County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Omar Ali convenes. Through the DCC’s barazas, various parties share information with the locals about diverse issues.
For Tanui, it’s about the opportunities students gain from ERTVC.
An academic tent
During busy days at Eldama Ravine town, especially on market days, the institution pitches the ERTVC tent strategically to attract the public.
During major events, the college pitches its tent in partnership with other stakeholders.
In most cases, practical skills such as hairdressing are showcased. These efforts are set to ensure no youth languishes at home.
The outdoor marketing tent also addresses inquiries about school fees at the institution. The principal guides walk-in students and parents on how easy they can settle their fees and works on how they can acquire KUCCPS funding.
Kazi mtaani, a challenge
Another challenge also facing the school is when the government announces vacancies for the kazi mtaani.
Most youths defer their semester in the name of seeking fees, a dilemma Principal Tanui says is hard to tackle as he cannot deny them the opportunity to earn some fees.
However, his worry is that not all of them benefit from the exercise.
Upcoming Expo
ERTVC has partnered with stakeholders on a new strategy and organized a Farm and Machinery Expo.
The Expo is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and fisheries in Baringo County together with the Baringo Agricultural Marketing Services Cooperative Society (BAMSCOS).
The event will take place on October 28, 2022, at the college’s grounds.
Parents and locals have free entry to witness the skills students have acquired through the various Agricultural courses they offer.
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The Expo’s theme is To Enhance Maximum Production for Food Security Through Technology.
Tanui narrates how he has had to think outside the box to raise the bar. Most youths around the area come from wealthy backgrounds and yet practice unprofessional farming, while the college offers professional ways of improving productivity.
Ironically, a high percentage of the same youth see no need for education, resulting in some being alcoholics in an assumption of being wealthy.
Several young people around the institution are non-locals and very few can afford education.
Under the Ministry of Agriculture, the college has put in place activities for the Expo.
They include showcasing agricultural products and services, having Agri-talks through engaging agricultural professionals, getting training from the county’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and showcasing farm machinery, crop production and livestock farming.
The Expo aims to offer opportunities for farmers to learn about efficient and profitable farming practices and offer a good business environment to interact, establish linkages and get feedback from consumers of products and services.
It will also offer an opportunity to network with consumers and explore new business opportunities for products and services.
All these are set to benefit the ERTVC students.
However, these marketing expeditions are costly and require facilitation. Local media houses have high rates which escapenhe financial ability of the college.
Tanui wishes Kenyans would do away with the notion that TVETs are for those that failed to join the University and embrace the fact that it is one meant to improve talent and upgrade production.
ERTVC currently has students between the ages of 18 and 30, with the college open to anyone regardless of age.
“The students I have admitted aged above thirty,” narrates Tanui, “are those that want to add some value to what they had pursued, for value purposes at their work place, and proper expertise at their businesses.”
Among the eight courses offered therein, Agriculture takes most of the units.
Different examination bodies examine the students in the courses: Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), ERTVC, National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), and TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council(TVET-CDACC).
Courses at the college are distributed to the various departments.
The departments include Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Electrical Engineering, Building and Construction, Cosmetology, and Business Studies.
The college has short-term courses open to all, including computer packages, hairdressing, electrical installation, plumbing, and welding grade three, respectively.
Kenya has categorized TVETs under 10 regions to enhance service delivery with ease.
ERTVC falls under the North Rift, which has Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana, and Uasin Gishu, under the leadership of Principal Josphat Kipkemboi, who is Baringo TVC Principal.
Through the Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI), which aims to promote excellence in training and technology, the North Rift region students participated in the recently concluded drama festival.
“I look forward to a turnaround come next year’s intake, as I welcome more walk-in students, proving that my marketing is bearing fruit,” he hopes.
Ali’s efforts
Regarding education, the Eldama Ravine sub-county Deputy County Commissioner Omar Ali has been on record insisting that schools should have a 100% transition.
“I work hand in hand with the ERTVC Principal Eric Tanui to sensitize the community on the importance of education,” says Ali.
“It is a seriously desperate situation when the time to choose the youth for the kazi mtaani initiative comes,” narrates Eldama Ravine DCC Ali. “It’s a pity.”
Ali says he normally solves a number of disputes by talking to the youth.
“It is tough; some of the youth during kazi mtaani are in college, while some are not, so you weigh whom to give the opportunity,” he adds.
Baringo County has ten registered TVETs.
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They are: Baringo Technical College, Cheberen Vocational Training Center, Emining Technical Training Institute Center, Kabartonjo, Kituro, Maji Moto, Marigat, Mogotio and Sogorik Vocational Training Centers and Kenya School of Government Baringo Campus, among other private ones.
Baringo County is among the counties with the least literacy levels in Kenya.
The journey to achieve a 100% sensitization of the importance of education is dire, with Tanui, who brings a wealth of experience from Elgeyo Marakwet, expected to keep the school with 100% intake.
