TVET Director Meshack Opwora lauds Ruto’s move to enhance higher education
Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVETs) Director Dr. Meshack Opwora has lauded President William Ruto for elevating 13 Colleges to National Polytechnic status to enhance access to higher education.
Dr. Opwora, who was among top officials accompanying the President Ruto to inspect the ongoing construction of the Kenya School of TVET Ebunangwe, Emuhaya Constituency, Vihiga County, emphasised that the move by the Head of State was long overdue.
Other government officials in attendance were Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and Education CS Ezekiel Machogu.
“We are happy that the President has deemed it fit to elevate the colleges. This will enhance mobility in TVET as national polytechnics are mandated to offer courses up to Higher Diploma level and can collaborate with relevant universities to offer technological degrees,” said Opwora, adding: “The TVET Act 2013, mandates National Polytechnics to award their own qualifications. They will undergo an accreditation process by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority to ensure that their qualifications are internationally recognised. National Polytechnics will be at the forefront as we rollout Competence Based Education and Training Curriculum CBET.”
Meanwhile, the resolution to elevate the 13 colleges followed a Cabinet meeting held at the Kakamega State Lodge and chaired by Ruto.
A statement confirming the same said: “The action by Cabinet is pursuant to the principles set out in Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2005: A Framework for Education, Training and Research; which establishes a pathway for upward mobility of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.”
The elevated institutions are Maasai Technical Training Institute, Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology, Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology, Coast Institute of Technology, Tseikuru Technical and Training College, and Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology.
Others are Bureti Technical Vocational College, Jeremiah Nyagah Technical Training Institute, Mawego Technical Training Institute, and Baringo Technical Training Institute.
In a recent interview, Dr. Opwora, who has a Ph.D. in TVET from the University of Newcastle, Australia, coupled with a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Planning from the University of Nairobi, and has worked as TVET Director since 2018, unveiled an ambitious plan to impart 5 million youth with requisite employment skills in the next five years.
“Our emphasis is on training job creators, not job seekers,” he said,” adding: “We have to equip the youth with entrepreneurship skills and provide mentorship. This is a sure way of building our economy by ensuring the youth are busy and creative.”
He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Kenyatta University, a Bachelor of Education in Technology from Moi University, and is a Fellow member of Engineering Technologists and Technicians of Kenya and a Member of the Australian Vocational Education Training Research Association.
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