Twenty trainees undertaking Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) are among the 3,593 graduates who have graduated this week at Sigalagala National Polytechnic.
The Principal of the institution Evans Bosire said the polytechnic has fully embraced the new CBET curriculum with 20 courses currently on offer across the 10 academic departments.
Speaking during the institution’s third graduation ceremony, Bosire noted that they were working closely with the industry players and the Ministry of Education to develop the new Curriculum Development Assessment and Certificate Council (CDACC) Curriculum for higher Diploma, Diploma, Craft and Artisan Level of Qualification.
“We will only design our courses and training to suit the most current realities in the industry while also allowing industry players an immense role in the skill transfer process,” he pointed out.
The Principal disclosed that the polytechnic endeavors to ensure learners have skills and work ethics required per job industry and remain relevant in the constantly changing Kenya and Global labor market.
He said through the National Government, development partners have come on board to support the institution in offering quality training and improvement of infrastructure.
He said the Canadian Government, through the Kenya Education for Employment Programme (KEFEP), and the Young African Works Kenya (YAWK), has supported training by providing office equipment and learning tools such as computers for trainees in the ICT department, as well as state of the Art Solar PV equipment, for electrical and electronic department.
KEFEP has also supported the renovation and equipping of a building, that now houses a room for lactating and daycare for staff and students who are nursing infants while studying or working.
Bosire noted that the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) is funding research on Horticultural production projects which would also serve as instructional facilities for both agricultural trainees and members of the community.
“GTZ is also helping the polytechnic to reconstruct demonstration fish ponds for purposes of teaching in the Department of Agriculture,” he noted.
He said with support from the National Government, the polytechnic has invested significantly in refurbishment of existing classrooms, workshops, sanitary facilities and laboratories to ensure they are user friendly and conform to the standards required by the Ministry of Health.
The principal observed that the rapid growth of student population from 8,900 in 2019 to 12,500 in 2022 overstretched the infrastructure forcing them to convert most of the students’ hostels and some staff houses into classrooms.
However, he said, the institution would soon commission a new tuition block that has a capacity of 40 classrooms and a significant number of office space.
The Principal further thanked the Government for approving the construction of another 6-storey, 72 classroom block which is estimated to accommodate about 3,600 trainees with more space for offices.
Sigalagala National polytechnic was established in 1950, and has grown to be among the leading National Polytechnics in Kenya offering over 100 courses spread across 10 academic departments.
The courses are examined by the Kenya National Examination Council(KNEC), Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board(KASNEB), TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC), The National Industrial Training Authority(NITA) and the Institute of Commercial Management (ICM).
The institution has 1,110 trainers employed by the Public Service Commission, and an additional 137 trainers employed by the governing council with 115 support staff.
“It is this team of dedicated men and women that ensures our co-mandate is achieved,” said the principal