President Ruto Defends New University Funding Model.
President William Ruto has staunchly defended the new higher education funding model, highlighting its benefits for students from vulnerable backgrounds. He emphasized that the model supports learners in public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions through government scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) financing.
Addressing attendees at Kabete National Polytechnic in Nairobi during the centennial celebrations of TVET, President Ruto dispelled misinformation about the funding model. He urged Members of Parliament and education officials to educate the public on the advantages of this new system, noting that parents had been misled about the fees required for students joining TVET and universities.
Additionally, President Ruto announced the completion of a KSh13 billion project to equip TVET colleges. He expressed gratitude to countries like Germany and Canada for their support in developing Kenya’s tertiary education. He called on TVET management to identify which institutions would benefit from this new equipment.
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President Ruto outlined that reforms in education, particularly the Competency-Based Curriculum and higher education, have enhanced relevance, skill transfer, competitiveness, and inclusivity. He stated that the government is committed to developing high-quality human resources to support TVET. The President praised Kenya’s partnership with international development partners, which has significantly improved the sector’s acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies.
He acknowledged the substantial contributions of the TVET Technical Working Group, UN Habitat, International Labour Organisation, World Bank, Germany, Canada, China, and Finland. He expressed his appreciation for their support in transforming Kenya’s education sector.
Furthermore, President Ruto encouraged young graduates from tertiary institutions to explore job opportunities created through the “overseas employment strategy” and bilateral labor agreements with various governments. He mentioned that the State Department for Diaspora Affairs leads the Kazi Majuu programme, while the National Employment Agency keeps an updated database of available jobs.
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He urged young people to seize these opportunities and work towards their success. He also commended TVET trainees for their exceptional contribution to the national tree-planting drive. To date, they have planted over 3.8 million trees, significantly surpassing the initial target of 500,000. He hailed them as heroic partners in combating deforestation and climate change.
German Ambassador to Kenya, Sebastian Groth, praised the collaboration between the two countries in advancing tertiary education. He highlighted their joint efforts in digitizing TVET institutions and revealed that Kenya and Germany would soon sign a bilateral labor agreement. This agreement will allow skilled Kenyans, including masons and carpenters, to work in Germany.
Ambassador Groth noted that the agreement aims to address labor market needs in both countries, providing a structured framework for the migration of skilled workers. In addition, it includes measures to protect the rights and welfare of Kenyan migrant workers in Germany, ensuring safe, orderly, and productive migration.
President Ruto Defends New University Funding Model.
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