Kenyenya Teachers Training College in Kisii County is facing an acute shortage hostels to accommodate the increasing number of students in this year.

Speaking at the college on Wednesday as he received first years, the college Principal Nathan Nyang’iti said the number of students has doubled compared to that of last year and called for help from both National and County Governments to come in and assist.

“We appeal to Cabinet Secretary for education Julius Ogamba to visit the college to observe and recommend how stretched facilities can be adjusted to help out teacher trainees.” He said.

The Principal attributed the big number of students to the college to the government’s recommendations by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms that lowered the entry requirements for applicants to the colleges.

In the previous entry requirements, the applicants seeking admission in Primary Teachers’ Training Colleges across the country were required to have a minimum of C plain in the KCSE examinations and have a pass in Mathematics as a mandatory subject.

But the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms(TWPER) led by Prof Raphael Munavu recommended and lowered the entry grades to Primary Teachers Training Colleges in Diploma in Education to grade C plain in the Kenya Secondary Scholl Examination.

The Public lauded the move because it freed many deserving youths who had been barred from pursuing the courses of their own choice; however it continues to burden the overstretched facilities which can barely hold big numbers.

Principal Nyang’iti asked parents to take their children to the college and get knowledge in spite of the stretched facilities and expressed hope of the college to get well-wishers to support it to improve its infrastructure.