Promoting Technical Education for Self-Reliance A Case Study of Chaminade Training Centre (CTC) Mukuru Slum.
Loading...
Date
2003
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
In 2002 the researcher wrote the long essay on Promoting Technical Education in Kenya:
A Social Ministry Challenge in an Urban Slum. In 2003, we would like to continue with
the same topic but with a new emphasis on Promoting Technical Education for Self-
Reliance. The slum focused on in our discussion is Mukuru Kwa Njenga (herein referred
to as Mukuru). In particular, an attempt is made to look at the technical education as a
response to the plight of young people in this slum. The youth (between 16 and 30 years
of age) are the living force of their countries and how they are formed, determines what
the country will be now and even in future. The Youth constitute a large percentage of the
population around the world and especially in the developing regions, Africa included.
Ojore rightly intimates, "Currently more than half of the world population is below the
age of twenty five years and 29% are between ages ten to twenty five; 80% of these live
in developing countries." Pope John Paul II is on record having noted that, "The church
in Africa knows very well that youth are not only the present but above all the future of
humanity."2 With regard to Kenya, Colin notes that the youth " form 61% of the
population."3 This means that no holistic development worth its name can exclude the
youth.
This same segment of the population, potential as it obviously is, however, is confronted
with diverse crises situations worldwide. These include, educational bottlenecks in their
yearning to pursue further education; untold and alarmingly growing number of school
drop-outs; adverse effects of drug abuse; pre-marital related problems such as sex,
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and unplanned pregnancies and abortions;
dehumanising effects of child labour and street life; HIV/AIDS pandemic; and rising
levels of unemployment, among others. All are linked to abject poverty.
This is what this work would like to put into light and make some proposals. It has
generally been assumed and is readily expected that the government, the church and Non-
Governmental Organizations (NG0s) give proper attention to the young people and their
concerns, and, therefore, set a large financial budget for their integral formation. However, the
reality on the ground negates this assumption.
In many areas, overcome by the increasing number of young people and their demands,
the government, church, NGOs fail to set practical ways of meeting the youth's basic
needs such as food, shelter, education, security, employment and recreational facilities
among others.
Description
Keywords
Technical Education, Self-Reliance