•More than 5,000 students will be enrolled in distance learning from January after the institution revamped the Open, distance and E-learning centre.
•Kelonye said accommodation remains the biggest challenge to the institution following the growing number of students being enrolled.
Image: MAURICE ALAL
Kisumu National Polytechnic wants private partners to construct more hostels to accommodate the increasing number of students in the institution.
Currently, the enrollment stands 10,619 students and the institution expects to have 15,000 by January next year.
Chief Principal Catherine Kelonye urged private partners around the institution to shift their focus to accommodation facilities.
Kelonye said accommodation remains the biggest challenge to the institution following the growing number of students being enrolled.
“Being a national polytechnic, we have many students from across the country. So private partners should take advantage of the available accommodation opportunity,” she said.
She spoke during the tour of the ongoing construction of the Sh 394 million textile centre of excellence being funded by the World Bank in partnership with the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.
The institution has 11 academic departments such as electrical and electronic engineering, health science, mechanical engineering, agriculture and environmental studies.
Others are applied science, hospitality, nutritional management, computer science and information communication technology, building and civil engineering, liberal studies, business studies, clothing and textile.
The principal said 5,000 students will be enrolled in distance learning from January after the institution revamped the Open, Distance and E-learning (Odel) centre.
“For those students who cannot come to stay around, they can still enroll for distance learning. The adverts have been placed in the media to attract students for the January intake,” Kelonye said.
She disclosed that Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has revised the examination sessions with exams scheduled for March, July and November.
“We advised the public to enroll the students in big numbers,” she added.
Kelonye expressed satisfaction with the ongoing construction work of the Sh394 million project which stands at 52 percent complete.
The scope of work is also 52 percent complete. “We are expecting the factory to be running by June and the school of textile technology will be on,” she said.
Kelonye said they have partnered with Rivatex East Africa Limited as their consultant on equipment.
“We have also uploaded our document for equipment. By the time the building is complete the equipment should be installed,” she said.
The project is under the 1.08 billion textile centre of excellence program.
The centre being constructed by Chaju Builders Limited will house a factory, laboratories, tuition blocks, studios and hostels.
It aims to revive the textile industry in the country through a partnership between the Ministry of Education and the World Bank.
Kisumu National Polytechnic has the best tailoring and embroidery machines in the area and works with several SMEs and tailors besides producing garments.
“Textile technology is not the common garment making that we have. Our garment department is just a backbone,” she said.
Kelonye disclosed that they are going to advertise for high-standard expertise in December with interviews conducted by the governing council.
“Those are the people who will be coming to teach and train our students because textile technology is not a basic course,” she said.
Kelonye said they are also looking at having expansive cotton growing in Siaya county where they have the KNP school of agriculture.
“We are urging farmers in this region to embark on the massive growing of cotton because the textile industry provides a ready market,” she said.
Kelonye said they are working with other technical and vocational training institutions to revive the sector.