After over 60 years of service to the nation in Vocational, technical and Industrial training; Michuki Technical Training Institute is set to be uplifted to a national polytechnic; this will be a major achievement since its establishment as a youth training center in 1956.
Historical Context and Vision
MTTI has continually offered quality education in technical, industrial, vocational, and entrepreneurship training over the years. It now aims to make a name in regards to being among the best institutions in the world offering vocational training. According to Peter Kihungi, Kangema Member of Parliament, while addressing stakeholders in a hotel in Murang’a, this elevation will have lots of benefits.
Expansion and Community Impact
MP Kihungi emphasized that the elevation will not just assist it in increasing the programmes that are currently being offered within MTTI but improve on its research capabilities and create employment and benefit other vocational institutes within the county. He promised to give his full support towards the institution in terms of infrastructure and development of human resources towards meeting the changing skilful demands.
It will also raise the levels of other institutions around the county since the forthcoming Michuki National Polytechnic will be compelled to share its indispensable facilities with other local technical institutes and offer relevant courses possibly missing in the latter, Kihungi pointed.
Strategic Role in TVET Sector
Mary Njugi from the Ministry of Education’s State Department in charge of TVET, noted the new national polytechnic will act as the centre for a cluster model and be endowed with a new mandate within the TVET sector.
We have the TVET blueprint that entrusts the national polytechnic with the mandate of mentoring all the other TVET institutions in the county, ” Njugi noted. She further added that the polytechnic will be a qualification awarding institution, developing curricula, awarding degrees as well as certifying qualifications.
Community Involvement and Infrastructure Development
The elevation to a national polytechnic status calls for massive investment in infrastructure. Njugi advised the local community to massively invest since the current MTTI will admit up to 10,000 trainees when it is elevated to a national polytechnic.
Chief Principal of MTTI Ann Mbogo pointed out that the institute, that currently has over 5,000 trainees, will meet skill gaps in the community. It will develop curricula that address those needs.
“We will also engage the community to provide lifelong learning to those with skills acquired through informal means but do not possess the necessary certificates,” said Mbogo. She added that the polytechnic will identify, retrain, and certify such people in order for them to contribute towards the economy at home and abroad.
Government Support and Future Plans
He added, “We will support MTTI through the entire process for the elevation to a national polytechnic.” Deputy Governor Stephen Munania was representing Governor Irungu Kanga’ta.
It is a welcome move to the people of Murang’a and the entire nation, and we will support it since it will enable us achieve the agenda of uplifting education within the county, ” Munania said. He added that the polytechnic will assist other institutions to develop curricula that reflects the specific need of the local market.
Current Status and Growth
The MTTI that had only 1,000 trainees in 2018 now has more than 5,000 and is projecting 8,000 by the year 2027. It currently has 88 classrooms, 25 workshops, 186 staff members, and 26 interns. The institute has also mentored six Technical Training Institutes: Tetu, Ndia, Mathioya, Gatanga, Kandara, and Kigumo.