A worrying trend is persisting in Kilifi county where the youth have shied away from joining a technical training institute five years after government established it.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration has spent over Sh100 million to build technical colleges cross the country. Majority of the colleges are in operation.
However, reports from the administration at Weru technical and vocational training college are worrying since the number of residents enrolling at the institution is wanting.
The college is about 60 kilometres from Malindi town.
The college principal Edward Mwagambo Lewa says the institution, which opened it's doors in 2017, begun with only 17 students and currently has a population of 780 students but majority are outsiders.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Lewa said out of the 780 students only 150 are residents while the college can accommodate up to 1,500 students.
He said despite the availability of government subsidy on tuition fee and HELB loans, majority of the local youth still chose not to join the college.
The technical institute charges Sh56,420 per student per year while government provides Sh30,000 as subsidy.
“So ideally a student is required to pay Sh26,420 per year, but if the amount is burdensome to the parent there is HELB loans which gives out Sh40,000,” he said.
According to Lewa, Weru technical targets students who did not manage to attain the cutoff points to universities. They also offer technical courses for primary school drop outs.
Courses offered at the technical institution include certificates and diplomas in artisan and craft among others.
Initially when the institution was opened, the principal and his deputy frequented churches, chief’s barazas and mosques to sensitise parents about the college but nothing has changed, he says.
“So, we are wondering why students are not coming to school because this is free learning, and this government has taken the initiative of constructing these institutions all over the country so that people can get skills.”
Last week, Langobaya Assistant County Commissioner Daniel Ndausi organised a stakeholders meeting with a view to address the issue of low education standards in the area.
Ndausi said high poverty levels and poor bursary distribution were to blame for the low education standards.
“I have talked to the MPs to ensure that bursary is issued on time because they normally issue it at the end of the year,” he said.
Ndausi also called for a review of the corporal punishment in schools to address cases of indiscipline.
