The continued failure of school leavers in Mbeere sub-counties, Embu County, to enroll in technical courses continues to threaten the future, availability and distribution of skilled technical manpower in the labor market, yet their role and importance have been fast gaining traction for acquiring local and international job opportunities.
The popularity of technical courses has increased because the government and educational funds have stepped in to offer loans and scholarships. According to former Mbeere South MP, Geoffrey King’ang’i, he pointed out that keeping these courses clear may compel regional contractors to import skilled personnel, thus translating to financial losses for the area.
King’ang’i has called upon school leavers to enroll into technical courses as an investment for the future in view of the expanding market demand for these skills. He called for Embu County to work on the shortage of skilled labor at a time when the region was expanding industrially, noting that many training spaces in TVET institutions, including Jeremiah Nyagah National Polytechnic, are filled with trainees from other counties, he said locals have not shown interest.
He further urged the youth to explore other ventures instead of Muguka farming and business, noting flexibility and affordability in technical training, including some short courses costing just KSh5000. He warned the public not to shorten education at primary or secondary school levels since both technical skills attained at home and abroad are now highly sought after.
King’ang’i clarified the misunderstanding that technical jobs entail manual work; he said that most of the industries carry out their processes through automation, hence minimizing manual work. He also cautioned the risks the youth have when they get involved in Muguka and Miraa farming, which leads them to substance abuse that hinders further education.
He reminded the youth that there was adequate space for those with technical skills to make money in gadget repairs, as well as in carpentry, joinery, and masonry. King’ang’i urged Mbeere South leaders to unite and aggressively advance technical training, appealing to the current MP to liaise with that constituency’s leaders in creating special scholarships and NG-CDF capitation funds to help in youth skill development.