Factors influencing trainee dropout rates in Technical Training Institutions: case of Meru Technical Training Institute in Eastern Province Kenya

Abstract

Kenya has been experiencing a growing demand for higher education that has led to establishment of several public and private institutions of higher learning. The technical training colleges have as well come up to cater for the segment of the secondary school graduates who miss to meet the university cutoff points. The government has invested greatly in supporting these tertiary level education institutions. However there been a big gap in the information available about the factors influencing the dropout of the trainees. This is important in wanting to ensure the efforts of the government bear fruit.

This study envisaged to investigate the effects of infrastructure, financial status and administrative policies on dropout rates of the trainee. This study adopted the use of descriptive research design. Data was collected from the trainees and lecturers of Meru Technical Trainee Institute that has a population of 1200 trainees and 125 lecturers. This research describes the factors influencing trainee dropout. Through questionnaires structured on the basis of the objectives of the study; data was collected from the respondents and analyzed using SPSS. It was found out that the major factor influencing dropout rate is inadequate resources to finance the students training and the researcher recommends that Scholarships, the low tuition costs and the widening of economic assistance for technical training programmes are extended to the technical training institutions to make it easier for trainee with economic dependence to break free of social and educational isolation.

The administration should engage the students and the lecturers constantly in the reviewing of the curriculum and finding ways of making the training more relevant to the needs of the job market. The administration should further device ways to counsel the trainees and help them grow socially without any adverse effects on their performance. This study recommends for further research on the social integration of the trainees and its effects on course selection, performance and dropout. This is important because as identified in this study most of the trainees are largely age mates and all in socially active stage that is prone to peer influence and desire to socially experiment, explore and discover. This usually leads to shifting of goal posts of the trainees' career targets.