Arara, Jane Aluoch2025-08-062025-08-062024-11https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/31135A Research Project Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Education (Curriculum Development) in School of Education and Lifelong Learning, Kenyatta University, November 2024. Supervisor Samson KariukiDespite the Government of Kenya putting in great efforts to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), its uptake is still low. The purpose of this study was to determine career guidance in secondary schools and its influence on students’ awareness of technical and vocational education in kiambu county, kenyaThe study was guided by the following objectives namely; establish how career guidance information sources, programmes and activities influences students’ awareness of TVET in secondary schools in Kiambu county, assess extent to which the student participation in career guidance influences their awareness of TVET in Kiambu county, determine how the capacity of career guidance teachers influences the students’ awareness of TVET in Kiambu county, and explore the challenges that may affect implementation of career guidance on students’ awareness of TVET in Kiambu county. A descriptive survey design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The target population in the study was 3393 form three (F3) and form four (F4) students, career guidance teachers and head teachers in 37 public and 2 private secondary schools in Gatundu South Sub County. Slovin’s formula was used to determine the sample size. A stratified sampling was used on a sample size of 358 students, with 12 schools in each stratum. Purposive sampling was used to select 48 career guidance teachers, 4 from each of the 12 sampled schools. Semi structured questionnaires for students and career guidance teachers as well as interview schedule for school head teachers were used to collect primary data. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20. Tabulation of the analysis was described in form of frequency, mode, mean, variance and standard deviation. This was presented in tables and charts; while qualitative findings have been presented in narratives, discussions and inferences. Recommendations have been made on the strategies of strengthening career guidance on TVET. The study outcomes are envisioned to be beneficial in creating awareness on TVET. The conclusions of the study were that; that the students have access to information on TVET through career counselling, visiting TVET institutions and through school clubs and societies; students participate regularly in career guidance through career education and through projects like career wheel and this influences their awareness of TVET; teachers in charge of career guidance programmes were available and have the capacity to offer career guidance in schools; that the main challenges were mainly the mismatch between policy and what is being practiced, insufficient time allocation to empower students on TVET, very few career guidance teachers (in many cases none) with knowledge of the current TVET courses being offered in the training institutions and the Ministry of Education should put in place a career guidance policy which will address the career guidance needs of the head teachers, career guidance teachers and students. The study recommended that The Ministry of Education through relevant authorities should help facilitate schools with internet services in order to improve the access to information on careers by both the teachers and students, allocate resources required. Also, there is need to empower all teachers in order for them to have better competencies and skills in career guidance. Since student participation was limited by time allocation on career guidance, schools should purpose to increase the time allocated for TVET career guidance. Lastly, policy makers should formulate policies that clearly place TVET career guiding and counselling on the school calendar so as to harmonise dissemination of information regarding TVET in Kiambu County.enThesis