- The event is set to happen later this week.
- The principal is encouraging more youths to join the institution for technical skills.
- The TTI is anticipated to be raised to a national level soon.
Located in Itibo ward of Nyamira North sub-county, Ekerubo Gietai Technical Training Institute is set to have its first-ever graduation ceremony on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
This comes after eight years since the school opened its gates for learners in 2015.
The vision of having the technical school at that place was first pioneered by the then Member of Parliament (MP) for the then larger North Mugirango/Borabu constituency, Wilfred Ombui, who served from 2007-2013.
The school’s Principal, Mr. Geoffrey Andama, told Scholar Media Africa that it would be a big day for them when over 500 students spread across all the institution’s levels of study who successfully completed their courses are set to graduate.
He said that good plans are in place to ensure the ceremony succeeds.
“It’s the first of its kind in our institution and we have planned to do it better as it will determine the school’s future and how we will run our business going forward,” he said.
The event will be graced by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education Ministry, Ezekiel Machogu, among other guests.
The school’s population
When school started, the enrolment of the students was very low, which the principal noted has steadily risen to above 2,000 despite many challenges and unfavorable conditions.
He, however, exuded confidence that, with time, the institution will be able to attract more learners.
“Once the challenges we are currently facing are solved, I am very sure we will experience a growing population in the school, with learners from all parts of the country enrolling for various courses,” said the principal.
Challenges
The road connecting to the school has been challenging for the years the institution has been in operation.
It is impassable during the heavy rainy season and hinders the students, staff, and visitors from accessing the school.
He, however, explained that he has had meetings with the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) officials and the local political leadership and remains optimistic that the issue will be resolved soonest to open up the school for easy accessibility to the outside world.
The institution is currently accessed through the Tombe junction off Ekerenyo-Ikonge Road. He noted the road has since been opened up and hopes that once the heavy rains subside, it will be murrammed.
“I have spoken to the KeRRA, our area MP Joash Nyamoko and Nyamira governor, Amos Nyaribo, about the road connecting to the school from Tombe junction and we have agreed that it will be done soonest.
I am very positive that once the rains subside, the problem can be solved. The MP has also assured me that the road will be tarmacked as plans are underway to promote the institute to a national status,” said Mr. Andama.
Partnership
In 2022, the school partnered with Germany, and they started to offer Mechanical Plant Technology courses through the Germany International Corporation in partnership with the government of Kenya.
The first lot is currently in year two.
The unique course targets exposing the learners to the industry through practice more than the theory part of it.
The learners go through theory for a term and are sent to the industry for the next term.
This is done interchangeably until they complete their course. They will be industry-ready by the time they finish and the training goes in line with the mode of training used in Germany.
Courses offered in the school include plumbing, building and civil engineering, fashion and design, beauty therapy, computer studies and informatics, business studies, entrepreneurship, and mechanical engineering, among others.
Call for admission
Mr. Andama has called on parents to bring their children to the institution to acquire technical skills, which he noted are better paying than white-collar jobs.
He also noted that the government caters for part of the student fees through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), urging learners not to fear enrolling in the school.
Also, the principal said the institution has laid modes of payment for school fees and never sends away students.
KUCCPS remits around KSh7,000 per learner every quarter, whereas the HELB funds each eligible student up to KSh40,000 per year.
The school charges a total of KSh56,000 per year.
“We don’t send students away for fees and that should not be a hindrance. Acquiring technical skills is now paying better than the white collar job market which is flooded.
I urge our parents to bring their children to this school and they won’t be the same when they complete their respective courses,” said the principal.
Investing around the TTI
The establishment of the institution has opened up various opportunities for investments in the area, which, if tapped well, will open up the area and spur economic growth.
Mr. Andama said it’s a wake-up call for the leaders, residents, and investors to grab the opportunity and set up income-generating investments around the Ekerubo Gietai area.
Two weeks ago, Education CS Machogu was at the institution to launch assorted equipment for various courses, where he pledged to ensure that it is upgraded to a national institute.
“Once the school is upgraded to be a national institute, learners will increase, meaning they will need more hostels, hotels and other social amenities.
This means the area will grow economically and even the value of land will increase. This is the right time for investors from our local communities and leaders to invest at Ekerubo Gietai to change the economic history of this place and our county as a whole,” he added.
The school has a teaching staff of 65 and a non-teaching staff of 28.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Educational Fair: Youngsters get training on career choice, admissions
Recently, the area MP Joash Nyamoko bought the school a bus that will go a long way in helping pick students living far from the institution to the school for lessons.
