Deputy President William Ruto spent his day in Garissa county doing a number of things like commissioning community boreholes and launching construction road works in the country. While the Deputy President was participating in all these developmental activities, he also addressed the issue of education in the county.
While responding to the request by North-Eastern leaders to have students from the region with low grades join colleges, the Deputy President said that the Ministry of Education is on top of things in resolving a stand-off on the admission of students to teachers training colleges.
Ruto asked youths from pastoral communities to enrol in technical training institutes to acquire skills that will make them competitive in the job market.
“Our goal is to ensure every youth has access to employment opportunities,” he said.
The DP said the Government asked Northeastern leaders to mobilise students to take up teaching jobs to bridge the gap.
“I want to give you our assurance that the education of our children, especially those from the pastoral communities, is a priority commitment for the Government,” he said.
He further said that the government will ensure the education for all children adding that they were collaborating with religious and private institutions to provide infrastructure for smooth learning.
“We are removing obstacles that hinder access to education through free learning and eliminating outdated cultural practices, such as early marriage and child labour,” said Ruto.
Ruto also said the move was a temporary one to avert education crisis in the region due to insecurity challenges teachers from other regions experience.
“About the problem you have with the Teachers Service Commission, I want to assure you that it will be resolved,” he said.
The Deputy President was accompanied by Garissa Governor Ali Korane, MPs Aden Duale (Garissa), Rashid Kassim (Wajir East), Rehema Hassan (Tana River), Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North), Hassan Omar (Wajir South).
What do you think needs to be done to create a level-playing field where those from marginalized communities can compete in the job market?