Economy

China offers Sh2.5b grant to modernise polytechnics

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Higher Education secretary Harry Kaane at a past event. Polytechnics in Kenya expect to benefit from Sh2.5 billion worth of modern equipment and machines after the government received financing from the government of China. File

Polytechnics in Kenya expect to benefit from Sh2.5 billion worth of modern equipment and machines after the government received financing from the government of China.

The government has purchased equipment and machines for technical training institutions worth Sh2.5 billion and are currently being distributed.

The move is geared at modernising technical training centres and make them relevant since most of them have outdated machines and equipment.

“We are seeking to provide modern infrastructure to learners who have complained of being irrelevant in the world outside college due to poor facilities,” said Harry Kaane, the Higher Education, Science and Technology secretary.

Mr Kaane could not immediately reveal which polytechnics will benefit from the grant.

The Ministry of Education has drafted a Financing Bill which, if approved, will see the formation of a fund to support infrastructure in the technical learning centres.

He was speaking during the launch of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) that said that most young people end up with training that does not give them employable skills.