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{
    "id": 441273,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/441273/?format=api",
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    "content": "forward, these controversies can get cleared so that the Jubilee Coalition Government can move with this noble idea. I also want to say that the issue of ICT curriculum is very pertinent as it has been raised in this Report, because without a curriculum, you cannot really assess capacities. You cannot be able to access the levels of knowledge and competencies by those who undergo this training. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if I were asked the peak of this Report, I would pick what is in the last paragraph on page eight. “The Committee noted that the polytechnic sector in the region was neglected with very low enrolment, poor infrastructure, insufficient and unskilled instructors, lack of innovation in the courses offered and high poverty levels among residents.” For me, that paragraph about the state of the polytechnics in our counties is the game changer. If we can address the challenges that the Committee has noted, then we will transform Kenya in a much more rapid manner. In fact, we can reach unimaginable levels of progress within a very short period of time. For a long time, we have invested in the notion that if you do not go to university, then you are useless and that the more degrees you have, the better and the more productive you are as a citizen. I speak like this with full knowledge that I am a professor. For one to be a professor, as they would know, one needs to have many degrees. I have many degrees and that is not bad in itself. However, time has come for us to ask ourselves why our country today, in spite of the many universities that have sprouted across the country, has problems. There are very few counties that do not have a university, a university campus or a learning centre. There are some counties which are being serviced through distance and extramural centres by some universities like the University of Nairobi. Why is it that until now, we are struggling with very basic development issues? We are unable to solve very small technological issues. Why is that? This is because as much as getting five degrees in Anthropology, Law, Sociology, Archeology and Music is good in itself, this country will not develop its economy until we put adequate resources to revamp especially the polytechnics and technical training institutions. Today, if you ask for ten qualified electricians in Nairobi, you will not find them. These are people with certificates in electrical engineering. You will not find them. You are likely to find probably five electrical engineers. Electrical engineers are good. They deal with the macro solution level of tackling our problems in development. These are the everyday things such as, what to do when your microwave is not working and take care of your fridge when is not working. These are the everyday things. These are things done by people called technicians. Look at the human resource profile of any country that calls itself developed. There will be many times more technicians that there are engineers. Time has come when we must refocus on Technical Industrial Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TIVET), our polytechnics. Those are the engines of our innovation. They should be the engine of skills and competence development. Today, I am told that some airline was asking for some people to do some basic work. People came with Masters degrees and some with PhD degrees. Some came with five Bachelor of Arts degrees while some had even a degree in law. One person had three Bachelor of Arts degrees. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}