COLLEGE PROFILE

Daily Nation

Monday

September 10, 2012

The Springboard - INSTITUTIONS 

 

WORLD BANK spirit still lives in baking school - BY EDITH FORTUNATE

 

A newspaper advertisement set off the idea of baking school. Mr. Maina Ngumi, a professional in baking technology, came across a notice by the world bank seeking consultants to come up with the projects to teach people to become self employed.
Mr. Ngumi Maina, who had studied baking at Metropolitant University in Manchester in the UK, sent in his application and won the tender to train small and medium entrepreneurs.
As a former manager at Elliote's bakeries in Nairobi, Mr Ngumi had the experience to train students sponsored by world bank to bake and set up their own businesses

This was 10 years ago. After the project lapsed, Mr Ngumi decided to set up an institution that would continue to train individuals to employ themselves. This led to the birth of the Nairobi College of Bread and Confectionery Technology.

More than 2,000 students have gone through the college that occupies the First Floor of the NHC building on Aga Khan Walk in Nairobi. There is a branch in Mombasa
The institution offers two major programmes and several Part-time classes. The main class accommodates 15 to 20 students studying for either certificate or diploma qualifications

"Because they are practical courses, we need small number of students so that they can understand and actualize what they are learning," says Mr. Ngumi. Short courses take one or two students for individualized attention.
Mr Ngumi is excited that because most of his trainees end up starting businesses, the college has maintained the purpose for which it was born.
He says:" We want to improve the income generation and living standards of rural and urban men and women, both young and old,in this sector through low cost demand-driven practical skills in bread and confectionery technology, fruit processing, dairy products, and business development services."

                                      Students at Nairobi college of Bread

                                     and Confectionery Technology keenly

                                     waiting for instructions from the Lecturer in preparation for a baking task.

The short practical courses lasts two to six weeks, while City and Guilds Diploma in Patisserie takes six months.
The training includes safety and hygiene at work, kitchen maintenance and design, budget costing and control, and preparation and paste-based products and desserts.
Also on offer is a course in opening bakeries on a budget. Each courses tailored to the needs of the individual students and their personal goals ." We customize our courses to fit the student," says Mr. Ngumi.
The fees at the baking school range from Sh13,000 for short courses to Sh27,000 or Sh34,000 a term for certificate and diploma courses that take up to two years.
Certificate and diploma students are examined by Kenya National Examination Councils. Short courses students get a certificate of participation.