Equip Africa College holds inaugural graduation

Kitale based Equip Africa College of Medical and Health Sciences has sent out to the job market its first batch of students it admitted in 2018. 

The college, during their inaugural graduation ceremony held on Tuesday awarded 175 students with certificates and diplomas in different disciplines that include community health and development, health records and IT and Nutrition and Dietetics.

During the graduation, stakeholders noted the importance that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions play in providing the labour market with adequate skills.

They called on government and private sector players to increase investments in mid-level colleges. 

Prof Deogratius Jaganyi Vice Chancellor Mount Kenya University (MKU), who was the chief guest at the ceremony, underscored the importance of TVETs, terming them a critical cog in the global education system.  

“TVET plays a vital role in training the required labour force of many countries and can be termed as the master key that can alleviate poverty, promote peace, conserve the environment, improve the quality of life for all and help achieve sustainable development,” he said. 

“In middle level developing economies like Kenya, TVET has been crucial in skills development. Its mandate focused on specific occupations, has allowed individuals to find skill-related jobs or start their own employment.” 

He added that the majority of students who sit their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) every year are absorbed by TVET institutions.

Last year 2020, for instance, out of the more than 747 000 students who sat their KCSE, only 143,140, or about 19 per cent, attained a mean grade of C+ and above, enabling them gain entry to universities.

About 80 per cent – or more than 600 000 students, scored a mean grade of C and below.   

“This cohort of students, who make the bulk of the candidate population who qualify for training in the various TVET institutions and represent the skilled labour force much needed for the development of our Economy,” said Prof Jaganyi at the graduation ceremony, where he first commissioned a new administration block that is expected to enhance learning at the institution.

“In fact, it is this continued performance that the government of Kenya has in the recent past introduced changes in the education sector to emphasize more on skill-based training as opposed to knowledge-based learning with the introduction of a Competency-Based Curriculum. This aims to harness and nurture the pupils' talents from an early age and helps develop their attitude towards accepting and growing their abilities.” 

Equip Africa College of Medical and Health Sciences, a middle-level training college focusing on healthcare training, has a capacity for 5,000 students and offers certificate and diploma programmes to bridge the existing gap of trained health professionals.  

Dr Chris Mutembei chairman of Board of Directors, Equip Africa added that TVETs have a big role in linking academia and industry.

He noted that the college was founded in a bid to fill the gap between industries needs and skills among students graduating with healthcare qualifications. 

 “It is important to note that Equip Africa founded the TVET Training section with an endeavor to fill the gap that has continued to exist in the un-matching skills with the industry requirements in terms of technical skilled manpower,” he said. 

“The main objective is to close the widening gap between academia and practical skills and competencies required in the job market; and provide a solution to the issues of youth unemployment by equipping them with practical skills to lay foundation for entrepreneurship. Today, we pride ourselves, having the first cohort of skilled graduands in Medical and Health Sciences ready for the Labour market,”  he added.

Phoebe Makanga, Regional Head- TVET Authority North Rift Region said the government has been undertaking reforms to integrate global best practices to link the TVET system outputs with labour market requirements. 

The reforms, she noted, include the introduction of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), dual training (College and industry collaboration), devolution of vocational education (VTCs) as well as increased enrolment in TVET due to improved image. 

“It has been observed that quality TVET programmes guarantee a strong link between skills learnt and the needs of the labour market by ensuring the production of graduates with superior employability,” she said.

Makanga further advised students to join institutions that have been recognised and accredited by the government, noting that this was the only way students can get value. 

“I should hasten to advise all of us to enroll only in TVET institutions that TVETA accredits,” she said. 

“That way, you have the Government’s assurance that the institution you enroll in has adequate infrastructure, equipment, qualified staff, approved curriculum, governance structures, and compliance with other set TVET standards.” 

Prof Evans Somoni Kerosi Executive director Equip Africa noted that the college   is aligning its training to fit the reforms being undertaken in the education system as well as the national development plans such as the Big Four Agenda, whose key pillars include universal healthcare. 

“In line with one of the president's big four agendas; Universal health care, we take pride in our top-notch learning infrastructure and equipment that cannot be matched with any other,” he said. 

“The college has heavily invested in upgrading the infrastructure, including a well-stocked library, a world-class science and clinical training laboratory, and an ultra-modern computer centre. In addition, plans are underway to mount new courses, pharmacy and Clinical medicine, to complement the existing programmes. We are destined to become a centre of excellence in medical and health sciences training on the continent.”