Director Education Hihger learning Science and Technology Mr. Owati Wamabayi.Photo/ Protus Simiyu.

The Director of Education, Higher learning Science and Technology Owati Wambayi has said that the Kenyan government has embraced science and technology as key drivers in industrialization in line with realization of Vision 2030.

Speaking at the Bungoma County Council during the official opening of Technical, Industrial, Vocational, Entrepreneurial and Training (TIVET) Western and Nyanza technical training institutions, Wambayi said technical education and technical training institutions have a major role to play in developing the country’s work force for industrialization.

The director asserted that in the new era, economic prosperity depends on brain rather than brown and that value is created through employing knowledgeable workers and continues learning.

Mr. Wambayi said the Kenyan government encourages the youth to invest in knowledge and talent and developing and sustaining of technological advancements and innovations.

“Energies of the youth should be geared towards innovations a move to improve the lives of all,’’ he said.

He said this is the era of partnership saying time has come to prove that no one has a monopoly of knowledge, “Working at something as a team of individuals or institutions ensures a multi-dimensional focus.”

The director said the new economic era is characterized by people working with their brain instead of hands saying that communication technologies create a global competition not only for laptops and computers but also in banking.

He said innovation is more important than mass production where investment is used to by new concepts as opposed to buying new machines, a world where rapid change is constant.

Students showcasing their products during the event.

The director said as such, the ministry expects institutions to adopt strategies and models of skill trainings that deliver on efficiency while at the same time maintaining quality and relevance.

“The need for current education and changing labour market conditions calls for flexible  access to TIVET to make long education needs of workers and the skills that are required in time learning without distance,’’ Wambayi said.

He said the ministry of Education, Higher Learning Science and Technology is focusing on integrating ICT in TIVET and developing of learning factories in TIVET institutions.

Mr. Wambayi disclosed that education consumes a largest percentage of the government’s budget insisting that the increasing percentage cannot be guaranteed owing to competing demands from other sectors while emphasizing on innovations to finance education.

 He said that the government is working on introducing broadband connectivity in all technical institutions saying that before the end of this financial year 20 institutions will have the facilities.

Mr. Wambayi said TIVET focusing on teaching on employable skills and examination competences saying the institutions should concentrate on how to use laboratories and workshops as manufacturing and service delivery entities.

In addition he disclosed that industry designed projects are essential to produce engineering and technology students with opportunity to apply their knowledge to actual problems.

“Experience helps students to bring the gap between the academic and professional carriers by exposing them to technical demands, potential pitfalls and professional expectations of practicing engineers and technologists,” he said.

This year’s theme of competition was ‘Celebrating Culture with Technology’   where the director said it provides a linkage between the past, present and the future as far as science and Technology is concerned with Sang’alo Institute of Agriculture Science and Technology as the hosts.