Dubai school to build six training institutes in Kenya
The Dubai-based institution has set aside Sh172 million ($2 million) for the facilities aimed at equipping youth with modern skills. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
Dubai-based Gems Education has set aside Sh172 million ($2 million) for construction of six training institutes in Kenya aimed at equipping youth with modern skills
The institution, known for its Gems Cambridge International Schools, will make Nairobi its first representative office in Africa
Dubai-based Gems Education has set aside Sh172 million ($2 million) for construction of six training institutes in Kenya aimed at equipping youth with modern skills.
The institution, known for its Gems Cambridge International Schools, will make Nairobi its first representative office in Africa.
“We are going to set up six world class institutes starting from early next year. We want to address skills shortage in the job market with these projects,” Mithum Kamath, Gem’s regional chief executive Skills Africa, told the Business Daily on Monday after the signing of a partnership deal between Housing Finance and the Nairobi County government.
Last year the institution set up a high-end school in Karen that offers British curriculum for learners in kindergarten up to grade 12.
Gems officials said they were looking to set up practical-oriented training centres over a period of one year to offer vocational and professional courses.
“We have partnered with Housing Finance. It will cost students slightly higher but with the assurance of producing quality graduates for the market,” Mr Kamath said.
The new development is expected to supplement the State’s efforts in stemming the falling standards of education, which employers blame on theoretical courses that lead to a mismatch of skills and market needs.
Mr Kamath said Nairobi will host two excellence centres focusing on the construction and ICT sectors, to be hosted on land provided under a partnership basis with either individuals or county governments.
Each training complex will have a capacity of between 1,000 and 3,000 students.
Other projects include institutions offering training in healthcare, agriculture and tourism.
The centres target students who have completed their secondary education and college graduates. Typical courses will run for between three months and a year.
Housing Finance Foundation executive director Winnie Imanyara said the organisation had partnered with the Higher Education Loans Board to provide loans and internships worth Sh300 million to students taking Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
“We want to offer a 360-degree solution to the country’s shortage of artisans — plumbers, painters and masons,” said Ms Imanyara.
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