Maseno Youth Polytechnic

"Equipping youth with practical skills for self-reliance"

This text is taken from a leaflet about the polytechnic.

History

Maseno Youth Polytechnic was established in July 1968 as a self-help vocational training centre by the Loca Community with support from the Diocese of Maseno North (ACK), the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and some Donor Agencies. This was to cater for the less fortunate primary school leavers and drop outs from poor families who were left in the gap of "After school what?". The purpose was to equip these young people with viable vocational skills at lower cost, which would enable them to be self-reliant and become useful citizens in the communities where they live.

The Kenyan Government started assisting the polytechnic in 1972 by paying staff salary grants, training staff, supplying tools/equipment, supervising and inspecting training programmes, while the community and well wishers continued providing physical learning facilities.

Location

The institution is located in South Bunyore Location, Luanda Division of Vihiga District, Western Province. It is situated in Maseno Township along Maseno-Kombewa road next to Maseno Depot Railway crossing.

Administrative structure

The polytechnic falls under the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources Development Department of Vocational Trianing Youth Polytechnic Programme. It is affiliated to the Ministry Headquarters through the District Applied Technology Officer (DATO), Vihiga District, the Provincial Applied Technology Officer (PATO) Western Province and the Director of Vocational Training (DVT) Nairobi. At the project level a Management Board of 15 members, a Project Manager, 18 Instructors and 10 Support Staff run it.

Multi-skilled courses offered

• Building construction (masonry, carpentry, painter and sign writer)
• Tailoring, dressmaking, hairdressing and catering
• Mechanical engineering (motor vehicle mechanics, driving and welding)
• Electrical wiring, electronics and auto-electrician
• Computer and secretarial studies (KNEC)

The polytechnic is both a boarding and day institution with an average of 300 boys and girls.

Admission requirements for technical courses is Std 8 (KCPE) Certificate or its equivalent and above; and for business courses Form 4 (KCSE) D+ Certificate or its equivalent and above.

All courses take between one and two years and admission is done every year in January.

Fee structure

The following fees are charged:

• Boarders: 19,500/= per year

Public examinations

Students are prepared for the following exams during their training:

• Government Trade Test Certificate Grade III, II & I (by DIT)
• Computer and Secretarial Certificate (by KNEC)

There is also thorough internal continuous assessment on practical work throughout the time that a student is at the polytechnic. The emphasis is more on the acquisition of the skills than on passing examinations.

Multi-skilling programme

For a long time, Maseno Youth Polytechnic has been leading in Kenya in offering the best artisan multi-skills courses. This programme equips trainees with skills in two or more related trade areas so as to make them more acceptable, marketable and competent. They can also change jobs as dictated by market forces.

Many primary and secondary school leavers are being attracted to undertake these courses which are highly in demand.

Co-curricular activities

During training, students also actively participate in various co-curricular activities both at local and national levels, namely ball games, athletics, drama and music.

Income generating capacities

To supplement income generated from training fees, the polytechnic has embarked on identifying alternative sources of income and is now venturing into income generating/money saving activities as follows:

• dairy and poultry production
• horticulture and crop production
• motor vehicle repairs
• electrical installation
• furniture making
• cloth/uniform making
• radio and TV repairs
• steel windows, doors and steel metal fabrication
• building construction
• management services for small-scale business people
• typing and duplication services

The institution also networks with income generating self-help groups, NGOs, Jua Kali, Business and the industrial sectors where sharing of information and work experience for building confidence are facilitated.

Gender and developments

The polytechnic acknowledges the socio-economic differences between men and women and advocates for affirmative programmes that encourage girls and women to excel in various fields alongside their male counterparts. It is currently mounting a vigorous campaign to boost female enrollment in the male dominated courses like carpentry, masonry, mechanics, etc., to enable them to compete for equal access to income creation opportunities. It also offers consultancy services to women or groups that desire to participate in the various poverty alleviation activities.