Chief Officer Education Madam Penina Onyango addressing participants during the 2 days for the Managers of the Vocational training Centers across the county at the Le Savanna Hotel in Kisumu (Picture by David Wadulo)
By Emily Mikwa
Kisumu County Directorate of Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) in partnership with Youth Alive Kenya and Forum for International Cooperation (FIC) organized a two day workshop for the Managers of the Vocational training Centers across the county at the Le Savanna Hotel in Kisumu this week.
This is initiative through the programme dubbed Decent Work and Labour Rights in East Africa, focuses on the gaps on youth capacity training, entrepreneurship, skills versus education mismatch, courses being undertaken at the VTCs and areas of advocacy.
The Chief Officer Education Madam Penina Onyango while officially closing the session on Friday, applauded the Partners for the initiative taken to sharpen the managerial skills of the VTC Managers pledging support through conditional grants to increase student enrollment in the VTCs.
She also announced that the county has approved the employment of thirty more instructors to be posted in the VTCs. Madam Penina further called on the managers to increase their networks at local, national and international levels citing that currently the department has partnered with tools to work from Netherlands who will supply tools and equipment to centers of excellence in batches until all the 26 VTCs within the county benefit.
Noting that participation in budget making process is key, she called on the Managers to work closely with the Sector Working groups in budget preparation to have their input on the requirements of the vocational centers.
The Director VTCs Madam PascaliaOuma, thanked the partners for the timely programme as institutions are set to open in January. She reiterated that the skills acquired by the managers will help in the smooth running of the institutions and increase student enrollment.
She highlighted some of the action plans that the directorate focuses on implementing such as enhancing leadership trainings, employment of more instructors and promotions. She called on the managers to ensure that their institutions comply Covid 19 protocols before the schools open.
Mr. ErustusOuko one of the trainers from FIC took the managers through some of the procedures of mobilizing resources such as the fund raising arsenals, and what they need to do to mobilize funds which included: duly registered institutions, having a regularly updated website, putting in place Board of Directors, having a bold vision/ mission statement, clearly defined programs and knowing existing funders and partners.
Mr. Simeon Ogonda from Millennial Legacy Company also shared with the managers the importance of preparing their students for the competitive job market. Some of the key strategies to be considered were: communally professional mapping, networking, industrial attachments and volunteering.
Mr. Levi Juma from Youth alive Kenya shared on the Education Policy and reforms in the TVET sector specifically the County Vocational Education and Training Bill 2020 which is currently under review for input.
The Manager Ahero VTC, Mr. Martin on his part shared some of the managerial skills and how to manage challenges when discharging duties as the Manager.
The resolutions made during the workshop as the way forward guided by Mr. Levi Juma from Youth Alive Kenya together with Mr. George Orude an officer from county Directorate of Youths included: holding an advocacy workshop, creation of an active network among the VTCs, Establishing an alumni network, re branding, online presence, designing websites, management of relationship systems with partners and having an alternative resource mobilization.
