The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by Hon. Jack Wamboka (Bumula), held a meeting with the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training(TVET) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to address concerns regarding the quality and staffing of TVET institutions. 

The meeting focused on the persistent issue of understaffing in TVET colleges, lack of ethnic diversity and representation of people living with disabilities in these institutions, as well as the delayed constitution of their Board of Governors.

The Principal Secretary of TVET Dr. Esther Muoria, attributed the quality challenges in existing TVET institutions to the rapid expansion of such colleges. She informed the Committee that the number of TVET colleges had increased from 55 in 2013 to the current 220 with 36 under construction and 52 set for construction by 2027. 

She further stated that, the recruitment priority by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for Primary and Secondary Schools, along with budget constraints and lengthy replacement processes by the Public Service Commission (PSC), contribute to the ongoing understaffing crisis.

Members questioned the rationale behind increasing the number of TVET institutions when the existing ones struggle to remain operational. They also raised concerns about the quality of education provided to students and whether graduates are adequately prepared to meet industry demands.

The chairperson of the PSC Amb. Anthony Muchiri, took the Committee through a presentation on the measures taken by the PSC to support TVET institutions, including legal and policy frameworks to promote ethnic diversity and representation of people with disabilities. 

The Committee presented a comprehensive action plan to diligently follow up and guarantee the attainment of quality standards within TVET institutions.