Short cousrses are the best shot to addressing joblessness among youths and steering the country’s economic development, Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a has said.
The lawmaker said that parents and youth must explore Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a viable alternative to university education noting that technical skills are playing a pivotal role in transforming Kenya into an industrialized, middle-income country.
She called on youth across the country to go for the highly marketable world skills including fashion and design, electrical installation, welding, plumbing, hospitality, hairdressing and beauty and entrepreneurship among others to enable them meet the high demand of specialists in the country.
She spoke during the graduation ceremony of some 300 beneficiaries of the short courses programme organized by the Thika National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) in partnership with colleges within Thika Constituency, at Pavillion grounds.
Ng’ang’a, who’s eyeing the Kiambu County gubernatorial seat in next years election, noted with concern that the country is facing a shortage of skilled manpower to power the economy adding that this creates a noble opportunity for unemployed youths in the country to acquire the vital skills and secure jobs.
“The goal is to achieve better socio-economic conditions for today’s youth as a means of addressing the challenges of unemployment and under employment. Technical skills and/or courses are highly marketable as one can immediately secure a job upon completion and or start their own income generating enterprises,” The MP said.
She hailed the Kenya Kwanza administration led by President William Ruto for its efforts in seeking job opportunities abroad for the Kenyan youths saying that exportation of skilled labour will help boost technical training in the country.
She also rooted for partnership between the government and the private sector in promoting vocational skills in the country by assimilating trained youths into the job market.
For the government, she highlighted the roles such as providing digital infrastructure, providing procurement opportunities and financing or payment frameworks, as well as friendly policies to facilitate entrepreneurship.
“This is not just a role of the government but also the private sector and development partners working closely with academia,” she said
Her sentiments were echoed by Gorgeous Technical Institute Director Jackie Kibutha challenged youths studying in technical colleges to be more aggressive in acquiring additional skills such as business management and computer studies so as to have a head start in both the job market and in seeking self-employment.
She reiterated that technical knowledge among youngsters is the surest way to alleviate the joblessness crisis in the country.
“It’s imperative for youths to be equipped with hands-on skills that will go a long way in enabling them secure jobs or start their own ventures. White-collar jobs are drastically shrinking and are being taken up by technological advancements. To beat joblessness we must equip our youths with technical skills,” Kibutha said.
She noted with concern that the unemployment crisis has compelled many youths to indulge in drug abuse, a challenge that requires urgent interventions.
“Offering right training and funding the youth to establish incoming generating projects will help the government halfway solve joblessness challenges,” she said.
She also asserted that equipping youths with technical skills will keep them away from drugs and substance abuse.
Kibutha at the same time challenged graduates with degrees to enroll for technical short courses to improve their employability.
Wambui Wangui who graduated with a short course in bakery termed it as a short in the arm noting that she will be able to start her own cake-making shop hoping to generate a descent income.
