Skill Stories from Students: Vocational Education in Africa

Let’s take a look at vocational education and training in Kenya, East Africa’s booming economy

I had the opportunity to interview Purity Wahito Maina, a first year student in Kenyatta University majoring in Actuarial science. I asked some questions regarding vocational education and training in her country . Kenya is the heart of East Africa with a population of about 44million people. It is also a former a British crown colony. The country is generally seen as Eastern Africa’s hub for communication, transportation and financial services.

What makes vocational education unique in Kenya?

In Kenya, there is a unique program called the National Youth Service (NYS). The NYS is the pride and backbone of my country as it has been focusing on helping young adults discover and develop their potential since 1964. The main purpose of the NYS is to create a pool of technical, disciplined and organized human resources to undertake national development programs. This is to alleviate youth unemployment in both formal and informal sectors by providing skills necessary for employment. Kenya has about 500 youth in polytechnic institutes.

How has vocational training contributed to the socio-economic development in your country?

It has led to a reduction in unemployment. Most vocational courses provide the learner with skills which are ideal for a given job. Furthermore, it has led to career upgrading. Vocational education helps in upgrading the knowledge that one already has including practical experience. It helps the learner enhance their productivity which has led to an increase in their earning power.It is most likely that a person who attends a vocational training institute has higher chances of getting promoted at the workplace. This, of course, translates into an increase in income and other social benefits.

Where do you see Africa in terms of development in the next 5 years if we give credit to this field?

When asked this question with a lot of optimism she said that she feels Africa will develop to a great extent if due importance and credit is given to vocational training by the governments. It will help boost the growth is all sectors of the economy.

What recommendation will you give to African governments to improve vocational education?

In Kenya, vocational education starts after completion of high school. My recommendation would be that technical courses should be added to the curriculum at the lower level so that students are able to identify their field of expertise at an early age. This will allow them to come out with creative and innovative ideas.

What are the challenges in promoting vocational education among the youth in Kenya?

Initially, vocational education was created to accommodate students who could not make it to the university. The youth tend to reject vocational training viewing it as an option for people who couldn’t make it to the university.

This goes on to tell us how the youth in her country will prefer managerial or professional courses to hand-on-task courses. This is very typical in most African nations.