Obsession to Join University Robbing Students Job Market Skills; Magoha

Education Secretary Prof. George Magoha said that the obsession with universities should stop and more students should join TVETs where they can equip themselves with necessary market-oriented skills.

According to the CS, most public universities are producing graduates with papers that do not have value.

He went on to advise the technical and vocational education institutions to stop being theoretical and focus on producing skilled graduates arguing that theoretical teaching has now been overtaken by events.

While presiding over the 9th graduation ceremony of 3,781 graduates at the Kisumu National Polytechnic on Wednesday 23^rd February 2022, Magoha insisted that universities and colleges must now stop offering courses just for the sake of examinations.

“There is no need of graduating with a degree certificate and thereafter tarmacking for year five or even 10 years looking for jobs,” Said Magoha.

Meanwhile, Magoha cited that there is a shortage of expertise like plumbers and electricians everywhere. For instance, the residents of Yala in Gem, have to look for an electrician 40 kilometers away and pay for his services.

“Those with required skills do not look for jobs, instead jobs look for them, every job is important and Kenyans should stop the attitude of focusing on white-collar jobs,” he said.

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Now more than ever, tutors should focus on equipping learners with the needs required for them to be successful.

Magoha urged TVETs management to practice accountability in the implementation of projects to avoid loss of public funds.

Since 2013, the government has increased the number of TVET institutions from 52 to 238 in 2021 at 10.6 billion shillings. Out of the 238 TVET institutions, 192 are operational and 46 are nearing completion.

Due to the 10.3 billion shillings capitation government grants and 11.1 billion shillings HELB loans to TVET trainees since 2019, there has been an increase in enrolment from 55,945 in 2013 to 249,316 in 2021.

The number of graduates produced in the Kenyan universities every year is a worrying trend, especially because most of these students are not able to secure employment opportunities. It takes quite several years before one lands a job, for those who are lucky enough.