Institutional Factors Influencing Trainees Participation Rates In Public Technical, Vocational Education And Training Institutes In Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to investigate institutional factors influencing participation rates of trainees in public technical, vocational education and training in Makueni County. The study was stimulated by the large numbers of youths who sought employment opportunities in the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway which traversed in Makueni County and yet they lacked the prerequisite skills. The study sought to answer the questions: To what extent does the instructor-trainees ratios influence trainees participation rates in TVET? To what extent does the relevance of training programmes influence trainees participation rates in TVET? To what extent does the availability of financial resources influence the trainees participation rates in TVET? Finally, To what extent does the availability of teaching and learning facilities influence trainees participation rates in TVET?The study was conducted through descriptive survey research design. Data was collected from 16 managers of County Technical Training Institutes, 16 Deans of studies and 375 trainees who were in their final year of training. Data was presented by means of frequency distributions, pie graphs and bar graphs. Analysis was done using percentages, mean and modes. The major findings of the study were that trainees participation rates in public Technical, Vocational Education and Training institutes were greatly influenced by availability and adequacy of trained and qualified instructors in the various trades offered for training. Relevance of the trades offered, with respect to labour market needs, greatly attracted trainees to the institutions. However, inadequate provision of financial resources to cater for recurrent and capital expenditure immensely contributed to the slow pace of growth and development of the training institutions. Inadequate financial resources had an effect on staff turnover leading to low numbers of trained and qualified instructors in the institutions and inadequate provision of requisite teaching and learning facilities, hampering quality training. The study recommends, for increased trainees participation and improvement of quality education and training, the authorities should employ more qualified instructors and remunerate them commensurate to their services to decrease staff turnover. The study further recommends for increased provision of financial resources to equip the institutions with modern teaching and learning facilities and diversification of the range of programmes offered to include training in agribusiness and environmental management.