Candidates who did not qualify for direct University entry this year can now breathe a sigh of relief after the government’s move to sponsor learners in technical institutions.
Ministry of Education has rolled out a programme to facilitate students with grades as low as D and E join tertiary institutions where government will partly pay their fees and just like their university counterparts, they will access loans to cater for the remaining fees.
Ministry of Education has set aside a budget of about Ksh. 20 billion for the programme that seeks to end discrimination in transition to higher education.
Education CS Amina Mohamed has urged youths to enroll for TVET institutions courses so as to get relevant skills.
She said the decision by the Government to recognise skills achieved outside formal education and training in technical and training institutions had opened many avenues for anybody who fails to be admitted to the university.
“We are reforming the sector to make it relevant as it is crucial for the Big Four agenda,” Amina said.
This means, those headed to TVET institutions will have training at absolutely ‘free’ cost.
The learning fees at TVET institutions currently stands at Sh56,420.
But the ministry offers Sh30,000 capitation fee for each TVET trainee.
The trainees can apply for a maximum of Sh40,000 loans annually from HELB. They are also eligible for county and constituency bursaries. Thus, capable to pay all their fees and have some extra coins to cater for their upkeep.
Higher education in Kenya has traditionally, been like a sieve only favoring good performers to move to university and leaving the future of millions of poor students in a limbo. Consequently, many youths lack job skills leading to high unemployment levels in the country.
With about 130 functional TVET colleges, Education Ministry data reveals that these institutions have an enrollment capacity of 300,000 students.
If only last year’s KCSE candidates benefited it means transition rate to tertiary education will stand at 60 percent an all time highest and double those who proceeded to tertiary institutions.
