Trainees' Perception of Co-operative Education and Training Provided by the Co-operative College of Kenya 2009

Abstract

Co-operative college is the highest training institution of co-operative studies in Kenya. Its original can be traced back to 1952 when a training centre was established at Jeans School Kabete, for training of government co-operative inspectors. The study endeavour to establish the historical background and administrative arrangement and the goals of the Co-operative College of Kenya. Its performance and to establish the education and training activities of the college and to assess how they have assisted its trainee to build a career in the co-operative movement and the world of work in general. Probability sampling was used where a relatively small number of cases was selected randomly and used as a basis for making inferences about all the cases (population). In this case 61 questionnaires were handed out to the sample trainees of the co-operative college and 12 questionnaires were handed out to lecturers of the co-operative. 47 of the questionnaire handed out to the trainees were returned while 10 questionnaires were returned by the lecturers. On the demographic information that constituted the findings of the study, the study found out that 91% of the trainees were within the 18-25 age bracket and the same percentage of the student were single. 8% of the trainees were between 26-30 'years of age and 6% of that age bracket was married. The study found out that 80% of the lecturers were married and 60% of them were aged between 26-45 years of these 20% were female. On the curriculum the study found out that 67% of the lecturers were of the opinion that the curriculum should be reviewed much more often. 68% of the staff was happy with the opportunities offered by the college for further training. On the performance of the college, 65% of the trainees felt that the college was performing well in preparing them for the labour market and 68% of the student felt that the co-operative education they received at the college was very relevant to the needs of the labour market. In the last three years more students applied for vacancies than the college could accommodate. The completion rate was a high 95% both at the Karen and Ufundi campuses. Trainees from the college were regularly employed by organizations like k-rep, Kenya women finance, trust KWFT, CFC, SACCOs and banks like equity, Barclays and cooperative bank. The study also found out that the college had received the ISO: 9001:2000 certificates on 17th October 2008. Amongst other recommendations by this study is computerization of the college expansion of the college to handle more trainees and that all students should be sent on attachments and that the ICT should be integrated in the activities of the college. The library should be computerized and books increased.