Challenges Facing the Entry of Graduates of Technical Training Institutions into Self-employment
The Case of North Rift Region
Keywords:
TVET graduates, challenges, self-employment, entrepreneurial skills
Abstract
Technical Vocational Education and Training programmes provide significant inputs for young people to become self-reliant, opens the opportunities for innovativeness and discover jobs which fits their choices and competencies. This study examined the Challenges facing the entry of graduates of technical training institutions into self-employment in the North Rift region of Kenya. TVET, if made affordable and widespread, can greatly reduce unemployment rates by giving the youth useful skills for self-employment. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; establish whether technical knowledge and skills acquired prepared automotive graduates for self-employment; establish whether entrepreneurial knowledge and skills learnt adequately prepared automotive graduates for self- employment; establish the effectiveness of industrial attachment placement in imparting hands on skills necessary for self- employment. The study adopted a survey research design. Questionnaires were the main instrument used for data collection. Purposive sampling technique was used to identify the subjects for the study and data gathered was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. Technical graduates (N-130) and instructors (N-120) were given questionnaires where an overall total of 230 questionnaires were returned. Ten former students included in the 130 who were self-employed also participated in the study. Initial findings show that, apart from taking entrepreneurship as theory unit, trainees should be attached to various business concerns to learn hands-on practical skills in business start-ups and management. Another finding identified by the study was a limited rate of employment after completing their courses. Further, despite the industrial attachment providing hands-on practical skills to trainees, the attachment was found to be insufficient and should also include experiences in the Jua Kali sector as well. The study recommended that the course content in automotive courses should be reviewed to match the current developments in technology in the motor vehicle industry; TVET institutions and the private sector should work together to create opportunities for comprehensive internship programmes with attachment period of three months replaced with internship period lasting for twelve months after the training, and the government should set up start-up loans for graduates willing to enter self-employment.Article Views and Downloands Counter
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References
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AfDB, OECD, UNDP, UNECA. (2012). African Economic Outlook 2012 Special Theme: Promoting Youth Employment. ISBN 978-92-64-17611-9 (PDF) Retrieved from www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en
Atchoarena, D. & Delluc, A. (2001). Revisiting technical and vocational education in Sub – Saharan Africa: An update on trends innovations and challenges. Paris. World Bank.
Blanchflower, D. G. (2000). Self-employment in OECD countries. Labour Economics 7 2000, 471–505. www.elsevier.nlrlocatereconbase
Brixy, U. & Hessels J. (2010). Human capital and start-up succes of nascent entrepreneurs. Scientific Analysis of Entrepreneurship and SMEs. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/ 6364525.pdf
International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. (2017). Unemployment, youth total (%) of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/ilostat
Johanson R. K. & Adams, A. V. (2003). Skills development in Sub-Saharan Africa. World Bank regional and sectoral studies. Washington, DC: World Bank. Accessed from http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/764171468741592643/Skills-development-in-Sub-Saharan-Africa
Parker, S. & Van Praag, M. (2007). The entrepreneur`s mode of entry: Business takeover or new venture start? Working paper University of Amsterdam
Rioust, L. A. (2009). Vocational training and the informal economy. OECD. http://www.oecd.org/dac/povertyreduction/43280323.pdf
Seng, S. L. (2004). Vocational Education Challenges and strategies, Suzhou China, International Symposium (2004)
UNDP. (2013). Kenya’s Youth Employment Challenge. New York: Bureau for Development Policy
World Bank. (2016a). Kenya – Jobs for Youth. Report No. 101685-KE, February 2016.
Published
2019-10-24
How to Cite
Japheth, K., & Dimo, H. (2019). Challenges Facing the Entry of Graduates of Technical Training Institutions into Self-employment. Africa Journal of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, 4(1), 94-107. Retrieved from https://afritvet.org/index.php/Afritvet/article/view/85
Section
TVET IN ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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