Technical and Vocational Education and Training graduates will be at the frontline in steering the government's flagship projects, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said.
The DP said TVET programmes are key in empowering young people with requisite skills crucial to the success of projects like the Affordable Housing Programme.
“Through the Affordable Housing programme, the skills and competencies that you have been certified with will come in handy," he said.
"We depend on you to ensure the successful realisation of this project.”
Gachagua was speaking on Friday when he presided over the 4th Graduation at Nyeri National Polytechnic.
"We need architects, quantity surveyors, engineers, building technologists, artisans, electricians, plumbers, painters, carpenters," the DP told the graduates.
Gachagua said TVETs are playing a great role in shaping the lives of the youth as they acquire knowledge and skills important to earning a living.
He said 16 new TVETS will be completed in the 2024/2025 Financial Year to add to the 272 already admitting students to ensure more Kenyans gain a range of technical skills.
The DP said the government has allocated up to Sh28.3 billion to TVETS to improve facilities for quality learning, especially in practical skills.
“The Ruto administration fully understands the transformative potential of TVETs up to the grassroots. That is why we are expanding them in our target of at least one TVET, in all the 1,450 Wards across the country," he said.
“This has been followed by recruitment of over 2,000 tutors as we target to reach 4,000,” the Deputy President added.
The DP said the launch of the Recognition of Prior Learning Framework now affords more Kenyans with skills but no papers to be formally recognised given job opportunities to earn more.
“In the ongoing Radical Reforms in the Education Sector, we have considered prior learning. It is an inclusive way of bringing on board experts who lack papers to validate their knowledge and skills,” he said.
During the graduation, over 4,800 learners were awarded diplomas and certificates in various disciplines.
Gachagua challenged them to work hard and fully utilise the skills learned for economic gain.
He at the same time emphasised the need for them to work hard whilst upholding integrity at their place of work.
"There are great opportunities for you in the country; in the construction industry, agricultural, and transport sectors. You must be hardworking, a go-getter and aggressive,” the DP said.
The DP also advised the students not to fear looking for job opportunities abroad saying they were working hard to enter into agreements with many countries to enable Kenyans to work there.
