Deputy President William Ruto has lauded youths who have decided to join Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions, saying they play a key role in development. Speaking during a TVET guidance programme function at Kakamwe, Tongaren in Bungoma County, the DP said developed nations are far ahead of Kenya because their education systems were changed to fit the requirements of technical training. “In Kenya, we lagged behind in development because we didn’t have people with the technology and technical skills,” he said, “Countries like Malaysia, Germany, Australia went ahead of us because 70% of education in those countries focused on the technological and technical aspect, while for us, 70% we covered is matters on history and only 30% technical and technology.”
He lauded the youths who have decided to join TVETs, saying they’ll offer best chances of employment in the coming days. He cited the housing project under the Jubilee government will require technical skills and nous which will be provided for by the youths. with the training and education covered in TVETs coming in handy. “Under the housing programme for example, if we are constructing 500,000 houses every year, it means we need 2 million youths every year.”
he noted that in order to deal with Kenya’s problem of youth unemployment, there needs to be a programme, but the youths need to be adequately prepared and armed with skills to fit the programmes in place. Several leaders were present during the function, including TVET PS Kevit Desai, and Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka.