By Laura Miranyi
Outreach and support for Non-project National TVETs has become an increasingly useful and popular approach to improve the face and mentoring of sister institutions. The mentorship exercise aims to leverage on TKNP’s enhanced skills and technical capacity. This initiative relied on a mapping out and needs assessment exercise carried out around the lake basin region of Kisumu County and the neighboring Vihiga County. A team identified eight Vocational Training Centers and further verified the potential for mentorship and support in the priority sector of Textile Technology.
TKNP PIU during a tour of Lucy Onono and Katito Vocational Training Centers.
The objective of this outreach activity is to collaborate with the institutions to promote skills development and transformation for regional integration; a crucial EASTRIP Project Development Objective. The Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) fall under the TVET umbrella and are governed by Centre Mangers. They offer a wide range of courses from Motor Vehicle Mechanics, hairdressing and beauty therapy, plumbing, carpentry, fashion design and garment making, masonry, food and beverages, ICT and Electrical installation. Each VTC visited had an income generative unit (IGU) which provided entrepreneurship and practical training to learners and extra income for the institution. A multidisciplinary approach to skills enhancement is key to ensure holistic training for overall good. Despite the challenges of inadequate funding and low enrollment in the VTCs, TKNP’s commitment to offer support through partnership and joint initiatives with the VTCs provide a ray of hope in skills enhancement in the region.
The Writer is a communication officer at The Kisumu National Polytechnic