Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Harnessing Demographic Dividends in Kisumu County, Kenya
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Date
2025-06
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
In today’s globalized economy, industries are becoming increasingly competitive, demanding that employees possess a diverse range of skills and knowledge. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs seek to equip individuals with practical skills and knowledge to enhance employability, career progression, and overall personal development. However, despite acquiring TVET skills, graduates continue to face challenges in adapting to the ever-evolving demands of the industry. These challenges include, but are not limited to, skill mismatches, employability issues, career advancement barriers, relevance of skills, adaptability, and competitiveness. Addressing these challenges necessitates a comprehensive study on the effectiveness of current interventions to inform policy reforms and decision making. This research examined the impact of TVET in harnessing the demographic dividend in Kisumu County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to assess the effects of TVET on youth employability, skills development, and youth empowerment within the county. The study was guided by three theoretical frameworks: Human Capital Theory, Social Learning Theory, and Empowerment Theory. A descriptive survey design anchored the study, targeting a population of 20,857 individuals, including 20,814 TVET students, 42 heads of TVET institutions, and 1 County Education Officer from the Kisumu County Government. A sample size of 379 respondents was determined using the Krejcie & Morgan sampling table. Disproportionate stratified random sampling was employed to select participants. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview guides. The reliability of the instruments was assessed through the split-half method, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.7, which was deemed acceptable. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative data were presented using means, standard deviations, percentages, and frequencies. The relationship between variables was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Findings were displayed in frequency tables, percentages, and correlational tables. Ethical standards including objectivity, informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality, as stipulated by the NACOSTI research permit and Kenyatta University research guidelines, were strictly observed throughout data collection, analysis, and reporting. The study found the effectiveness of TVET training in harnessing demographic dividends in Kisumu County to be strong in youth empowerment (r = 0.95), skill development (r = 0.87), and youth employment (r = 0.57). Qualitative insights supported these findings, highlighting TVET's role in fostering ambition, skill acquisition, and youth empowerment. This draws to the conclusion that TVET training in Kisumu County was effective in promoting youth employability, skills development and empowerment. It plays a crucial role in harnessing demographic dividends. The study recommends regular curriculum reforms to align training with emerging youth needs and labor market demands. It recommended that the government, as policy-maker, regularly reform TVET curricula. Incorporating student feedback will help align training with emerging demographic and labor market needs. Future studies should compare TVET effectiveness across counties, track long-term outcomes, and assess employer perspectives.
Description
A Research Report Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration of Kenyatta University, June 2025.
Supervisor
Weldon Kibet Ng’eno