KIST To Be Elevated To National Polytechnic Status.
Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology in Kiambu will be elevated to National polytechnic status as part of the government’s efforts to improve technical and vocational education.
Dr Margaret Mwakima, Principal Secretary, State Department for Vocational and Technical Training, Ministry of Education, stated that the Ministry is continuing the process of upgrading the school’s status.
During the institution’s 18th graduation ceremony, the PS confirmed that plans are underway to upgrade nine (9) TVET institutions to National Polytechnics, including the Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology.
“I want to assure the school community that plans are on course to elevate the 49-year-old institution. We have already done the paperwork and things are progressing well, we are hoping that this will happen soon,” the principal said in her address.
The PS confirmed that once KIST and the other eight institutions, including the Kenya Technical Teachers College, are upgraded, the total number of National Polytechnics in Kenya will increase from 13 to 22.
The government believes that TVET institutions will be critical in providing the skills and knowledge needed as the country moves toward its Vision 2030 goal of becoming an industrialized middle-income economy.
Mwakima also stated that the Ministry has committed to training more teachers for the institutions as well as upgrading equipment to modern standards.
Govt To Recruit 3,000 Trainers And Increase Retirement Age Of TVET Tutors And principals – Dr. Mwakima
“We now have approval to recruit 3000 trainers to address the current shortage in TVET institutions, and we have been allowed to begin with 1000 in the next financial year,” she said.
She explained that the Ministry will hire 2000 degree holders and 1000 diploma holders out of the 3000 trainers to be hired.
Members of the KIST community welcomed the PS announcement, led by the school’s board chairperson, Dr Josiah Kamau, who urged the Ministry to expedite the upgrade process.
He thanked the Ministry for its assistance, saying that they had already begun to see progress because more trainers had been assigned to the institution to help bridge the staffing gap.
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“We thank the government for hiring teachers in most faculties of learning. The school in conjunction with its partners also added 100 more teachers to reduce the workload,” Kamau explained.
1406 students received certificates and diplomas from various disciplines, including baking technology, building and civil engineering, business entrepreneurship and social studies, electrical and electronic engineering, ICT and computer studies, and hospitality, during the graduation ceremony.
KIST has benefited from Kenya – German Cooperation for Youth Empowerment Initiative.
KIST To Be Elevated To National Polytechnic Status
