Today, we gather here to celebrate the joint graduation ceremony of our Vocational Training Centers in collaboration with Danish Refugee Councils.
As a county, we have made remarkable strides in the field of technical and vocational training, with the establishment of seven vocational training centers across the region. These centers have played a crucial role in providing quality education and skills training to our youth, who have become successful entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders in their own right.
I am honored to witness the graduation of 434 students from our four Vocational Training Centers – Mandera, Takaba, Rhamu, and Elwak. These young men and women have shown remarkable dedication and hard work in acquiring the knowledge and skills required to succeed in the modern job market. Through their perseverance, they have passed the National Industrial Training Authority exams in different trade areas and are now poised to enter the workforce.
To our graduates, today marks the pinnacle of your hard work, dedication, and commitment to your education and training. You have acquired valuable skills that will set you on a path towards a bright future. I urge you to use these skills to create employment opportunities for yourselves and others, support our local economy, contribute to the growth and development of our county and became role models to our youth.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is with immense pleasure that I announce that each graduate will be awarded a certificate and start-up kit to aid them in their entrepreneurial journey. The county government, with support from our national government and partners such as Islamic Relief, Save the Children, Kenya Red Cross, and Boresha, has invested heavily in the infrastructure development of these centers, including financing their operational costs, to ensure that they provide quality education and training to our youth.
The county government, in partnership with the national government, has employed a co-financial approach to improve the infrastructure and cover operational costs of the seven Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) in the region. This approach involves an equal contribution of funds from both governments through the subsidized vocational training grants. For the 2022/2023 financial year, the county government has allocated Kshs 30 Millionto finance both recurrent and development expenses of the VTCs in the area.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the national government and our partners, whose continuous support has been integral to the success of our Vocational Training Centers. Their efforts have helped increase access to education and training opportunities for our youth, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the years ahead.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As a county, we are committed to investing in our youth, and that is why we have established vocational training centers across the region. We want to create an environment where our youth can thrive and become leaders and entrepreneurs. Therefore, I call upon more young people to enroll in our vocational training programs, assuring them that the county government will continue to invest in these centers to provide quality education and training
In addition, we have recently set up an education task force that is specifically focused on Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This task force has been working tirelessly to develop a comprehensive report that will provide us with strategic directions on how we can improve the quality of our vocational training centers and enhance our ECDE programs.
We eagerly await the outcome of this report, as it will help us to identify the areas that require urgent attention and allocate resources accordingly. It will also provide us with a roadmap for the improvement of our vocational training centers, so that they can continue to provide quality education and training to our youth.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend the members of the education task force for their hard work and dedication. Their efforts will undoubtedly go a long way in improving the quality of education and training in our county.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As part of our commitment to promoting access to quality education, the county government launched free secondary education program of 350 Million. This initiative will ensure that every child in our county has access to quality secondary education, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
Furthermore, we have a bursary program to support students in colleges and universities. This bursary provides financial assistance to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams. My administration believes that investing in our youth’s education is the key to unlocking the county’s potential, and we are committed to doing everything we can to make this a reality.
In conclusion, I want to assure you that Mandera County Government remains committed to improving the quality of education and training in our county. We will continue to invest in our vocational training centers, as well as our ECDE programs, to ensure that our youth are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in the modern world.
Once again I congratulate our graduates, and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. And to all of you present here today, thank you for joining us in celebrating the achievements of our youth.
Thank you all!
