A comparative study of factors influencing performance of students in technical courses (mechanical and automotive) : a case of Nairobi Technical Training Institute and Kenya Christian Industrial Technical Institute

Abstract

Technical education and Vocational training has existed in Kenya for almost as long as formal education. The introduction and expansion of technical and vocational education in Kenya was witnessed in large scale in the early 1970's. This was more of the government's reaction to public pressure for increase in practical skills in the field of general secondary education. Technical education was held under the 7-4-3 system before it was changed to the 8-4-4 system by the government in 1982. This change to the new system placed a great challenge to vocational and' technical training programmes in the country. It also led to low levels of student performance in technical subjects in technical training institutes.

A research done, (UNICEF, 1999), reported that "two major issues facing public TEC-VOC institutions are the inadequacies in the provision and maintenance of physical facilities (classrooms, lecture theatres workshops and laboratories). The literature reviewed was on studies done on motivation, attitudes, equipment and facilities. Sources of literature were from secondary sources mostly from research done by the Kenya Institute of Education (KlE). So the question was asked about the factors that influence performance of students in technical subjects.

The general objective of this study was to find out the factors that affect performance of mechanical and automotive subjects in NTTI and KCIT. The research data was collected using questionnaires made up of both structured and unstructured questions. The target population were teachers and students. The data collected was analysed using statistical methods of data analysis and presented using tables. The findings of this study showed that NTTI had better performance than KCITI in spite of having old and obsolete equipment, location of the institute in a residential area and industrial attachment for the students.