By Rodgers Omondi, Busia
Youth in Busia have been urged to enroll for TVETS education through the government sponsorship program to learn skills that will enable them earn a living.
Speaking in Nambale sub county during the flagging off of students to various TVETS, Josphat Wanyangu, director Kakamega Integrity Youth Training Activities (KIYTA) said the government has given priority to TVET education to ensure youth get enough skills.
“The government has invested much in technical education. It has initiated the grant and sponsorship to students joining the technical institution to undertake technical courses so that each child can have opportunity regardless of the social status. It is giving a sponsorship which cater for the fees .” He said adding that KIYTA has been given the mandate by the government as a marketing entity to the local community.
Jackline Barasa, chairperson Raising Hope Support Association said they have been working to help youth to apply for the sponsorship and enroll in different technical institutes.
“We have managed to take 375 students to different technical institutions including Bumbe technical, Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology, Bungoma polytechnic among others for the two years we have been working. This session of September we have a total of 180 students whom we are taking to schools.” She said.
Barasa stated lack of information about the availability of government sponsorship as a challenge to many youths and parents stating that they have kicked off the sensitization to ensure that members of the public get the information.
“We are also encouraging those students who didn’t get an opportunity to join university to start with artisan course, get a certificate and moves to another level to undertake a degree” she said.
She rallied a call to the youth and parents to take advantage of the government program to benefit from it.
“This program is sponsored by the government and we need to take advantage of it. Let those parents who have children at home to help them enroll through KIYTA and Raising Hope support association so that their children can be assisted on applying and get the opportunities. These are the courses that are marketable today in our country as a trained person will be able to create own employment.” She said.
She also said the role of a parent for a student in this program is to ensure they cater for rent and food for their children as the government caters for the fees. She added that they should also ensure they give guidance to their children even while at school.
Raising Hope Support Association patron Issac Omeri said there are a lot of opportunity for the youth that needs one who have been trained and is qualified.
“When a person is trained and has a certificate, there is a big chance to get a job that pays well as a profession. Lack of certificate is exposing our children to hard work with less pay because they lack documents even if they have skills. We already have memorandum of understanding with the TVETS and this enable our students to fully remain in school. We are also considering those who are more vulnerable from the community so that they can also get the opportunity.” He said
Wilbrodah Barasa, a parent to a beneficiary started that the program has given his child an opportunity to undertake a technical course through sponsorship, reducing a burden for school fees.
“As a parent, the burden of school fees has been carried by the government which I wasn’t able to manage. I want to thank the government for this project. My call to other parents is that lets bring our children so that they get educated in our TVETS for their better tomorrow.’ She said
Elias Wabwire, a beneficiary who will join Ramogi Institute of Advance Technology to pursue medical engineering urged youth to embrace the program and take the opportunity.
“This is a good opportunity for us as youth. Lets all take it and benefit other than staying at home and engaging in action that are not beneficial to our life” he said.
