The approach on tertiary education among the youths is gradually changing with most opting to attend Technical and Vocational Trainings (TVET) than universities in the country.
This became evident during the second edition of Hands on The Future Skills Show at the KICC in Nairobi County as thousands of youths around the country attended to show case their various expertise and innovations in their fields of discipline.
Others are hunting for opportunities in the sector to kick start their careers or studies.
TVET sector has experienced growth of over 100 percent with 110,000 more students enrolling in various institutions country wide from 80,000 registrations in 2017.
Moreover, the job demand currently favors TVET holders than university graduates due to the practical skills they posses that are crucial in the competitive market.
“Our university graduates are highly educated but not skilled. This is costing private sectors and other employing agencies as they are forced to retrain them to acquire practical industry skills that is vital in the job market,” echoed Safaricom Director of Corporate Affairs Steve Chege during the opening ceremony of the show.
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Practical skills training in TVET further enables their students to be entrepreneurs as degree graduates have been turned into mere job seekers despite spending hours in lecture halls learning theories.
In a recent study by Federation of Kenya Employers, they established that jobs meant for diploma and certificate holders such as clerical and receptionists are being taken up by degree graduates.
This solidifies the changing perspective parents and the youth are adopting towards technical skills in order to acquire expertise that will enable general development.
“TVET sector is at heart and soul of the government development agenda that will help the country attains its vision 2030 by having highly skilled and innovative youths who will in-turn accelerate growth of industries hence improvement on the livelihoods of all Kenyans,” said Amb Amina Mohammed the Cabinet Secretary of Education during the show.
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The present fast changing labor and technology driven market demands soft skills than college degrees, and the trend is expected to rise higher in the near future.
Several studies world wide have revealed that universities are not preparing students for the present job market and TVET is closing the huge gap that has seen many youths being unemployed.
TVET Authority has further invited the president of the World Skills International to discuss admission of Kenya in the World Skills Competition (WSC) that has enrolled only six African Countries.
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“This shows the commitment stakeholders in the sector have in ensuring the education and training of the work force promotes an understanding of sustainability for the stewardship of resources and opportunities,” stated the Director General of TVETA Dr Kipkirui Langat.
The three days Hands of The Future skills Show 2019 will host over 130 exhibitors from private and public TVET institutions, NGOs, Private sector companies and offer 75 workshops on relevant topics around the sector.
