The Ruiru Technical and Vocational College has finally been completed courtesy of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF).
The institution of higher learning located in Kwihota Village,Ruiru Sub-County, Kiambu County becomes the 239th TVET institution to be fully funded by the government and it will offer artisanry courses ranging from electrical and mechanical engineering, masonry, plumbing, beauty and catering courses, in a bid to increase literacy levels in the country.
With youths being urged to register with TVETs institutions which offer short technical courses which will match the demands of both local and international job markets.
Meanwhile, government has been urged to prioritise Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET) to spur development in the country.
According to Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amolo, for the country to achieve growth TVETs should be the focus for training by the government.
Otiende urged the government to maintain the principle of establishing TVETs in each constituency to generate skilled manpower and commended the government for supplementing fees for students in TVET institutions.
The legislature who was speaking during the official handing over ceremony of Rarieda Technical Training Institute in Mahaya warned against talks of possible reconfiguration of TVETs saying the talks should be reconsidered.
"I want to urge the government to continue setting up TVETs in each constituency and also supplementing fees for students in the institutions. I also want to urge those behind the talks to reconfigure TVETs to reconsider their positions because if we are to develop as a country then the government must make TVETs a priority." Otiende said.
He observed that TVETs equip students with technical skills which enable them to be self employed in case they can not be gainfully employed.
"Education is important but not everyone can go to university. Let us encourage our children to take advantage of such institutions where they can learn basic courses from artisanal, certificate and diploma level and earn better income than their degree counterparts." He added.
He disclosed that the NGCDF has released one million shillings to supplement school fee for the first fifty students.
Otiende asked the locals to take advantage of the newly opened institution to provide accomodation services for students from outside the constituency by investing in housing or renting parts of their homes to earn income.
Rarieda TTI which will begin admission of students on Monday 9th January will be headed by former Kisumu polytechnic head of academics Dr Linda Ayuku who comes in as the principal of the institution.
The handing over occasion was attended by Siaya county TVET Director Joseph Sunguti, Kisumu Polytechnic chair governing council Eng. Meshack Kidenda, Kisumu Polytechnic chief principal Catherine Kayesi and Siaya county Education CEC Dr Edgar Otumba.
