Vocational Education Training (TVET) centres
Lamu County Governor Fahim Twaha has challenged youth in the region to join Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) centres in order to acquire life skills in preparation for the upcoming new Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project.
Speaking during the opening of newly renovated ICT and Conference centres at the Lamu Vocational Training Centre, Mr Twaha reiterated that the county will do all it takes in supporting technical education training in the region so that as many youth as possible can join such institutions to learn.
Mr Twaha said as a move to encourage locals embrace the TVET training, the county government will be sponsoring every youth completing TVET studies in the county with a full set of tools that will assist them begin life with.
The governor also revealed plans to employ more instructors to teach in the TVET centres.
He urged the youth to form groups and pool their resources together in order to benefit from the various government empowerment programmes.
“It’s high time that youth in Lamu embrace TVET education in order to secure employment at the new Lamu Port (LAPSSET) and any other mega projects intended in our county. That’s why as county government, we encourage as many youth as possible to join these TVETs. We are doing what we can to improve the status of our TVETs in Lamu. As a form of encouragement, my administration will also be sponsoring all youth graduating from our TVETs with sets of equipment that will assist them begin life with,” said Mr Twaha.
He lauded the national government through President Uhuru Kenyatta for allocating Sh15,000 to every youth joining TVET in Lamu to ensure they stay in school and learn.
“The money was channeled through the county government and we already distributed them to the intended people. As I am aware, ECDE and TVETs are devolved functions. We will support them including employing more instructors to teach in those institutions,” said Mr Twaha.
The county boss also advised youth, women and people with disabilities to form and register companies to enable them apply for tenders to supply goods and services to the government.
He pointed out that most youth and vulnerable people in the county have lost opportunities to do business with both the national and county governments for failure to form companies as well as failure by the previous leadership to fight for the rights of the locals.
He said his leadership is committed to fight and end unemployment and poverty among the Lamu communities, particularly the youth.
Lamu Vocational Training Centre Board of Management Chairman Ali Shebwana said they had introduced more courses being taught at the Lamu Vocational Training Centre.
He said the newly introduced courses are port related.
“We used to have carpentry, wielding, plumbing, henna painting, electrical, beauty therapy, construction, masonry and others. Now we have included clearing and forwarding and marine related courses including diving, coxswain, marine fit and shipping. We want to tap the job opportunities at LAPSSET and any other mega projects coming to Lamu,” said Mr Shebwana.
He wondered why a huge percentage of youth in the county were still wallowing in abject poverty at a time when the government had created potential opportunities for them.
He called on parents to take the opportunity including availability of TVETs and bring their children to train in those institutions.
“I call on youth completing KCPE and KCSE. It doesn’t matter whether you have scored a D+, D, D- or even E. You can join TVET where you can acquire skills to assist cope with life. Learning here is free,” said Mr Shebwana.
The renovation of the newly opened ICT and conference centres at Lamu Vocational Training Centre cost the county government Sh3 million.
