Alternative financing mechanisms in provision of quality education and training in Youth Polytechnics in Imenti South District
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Date
2012-02-17
Authors
M'Rukaria, Titus Kirimi
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Abstract
Despite the rationale for introduction of safety nets such as bursaries and constituency development fund in the education sector, there are increasing concerns over the limited finances in youth polytechnics to provide quality education and training. This is because, almost all educational institutions in Kenya face serious financial constraints due to failure by parents to pay fees promptly. Therefore, this study sought to find out alternative financing mechanisms in provision of quality education and training in youth polytechnics in Imenti South District- Meru County. The study was guided by the following objectives; to find out sources of financing in youth polytechnics, to assess how the managers of the youth polytechnics perceive their role in income generation, to determine income generating activities and areas that benefit from the income accruing, to examine how Income Generating Activities (IGAs) are managed and to explore the potential for establishing unexploited IGAs in the youth polytechnics. The researcher adopted descriptive survey design. The study targeted the Imenti South District youth officer, two (2) youth polytechnic managers and 43 instructors in the two youth polytechnics in the district making a total of forty six (46). A purposive sampling technique was employed and the sample size was 27 respondents composing of one (1) District Youth Officer, two (2) youth polytechnic managers and twenty four (24) instructors. Data was collected using questionnaires, observation guide and interview schedule. Data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using descriptive statistics such as frequency mean and charts. The results were presented by use of percentages, frequency tables, bar graphs and pie-charts. The findings of the study revealed that (100%) youth polytechnics in the district did not have adequate funds to acquire basic teaching and learning resources to offer quality training. As such there were inadequate classrooms, workshops and libraries which lead to poor storage of books, lack of practical lessons, low enrolment, and incomplete projects among others. Also, 73.08% of the respondents affirmed that their institutions had Income Generating units which contributed 6.6% of the total annual income but there are other unexploited potential income generating activities. In addition 80.77% of the respondents supported starting of production units while 85.61% of the respondents rated income generation as promising. Moreover, 84.62% of the respondents indicated that management of income generating activities is in the hands of staff members. However, there were constraints in initiating and managing income generating activities such as; inadequate finances, lack of expertise, heavy workload, limited land and poor remuneration among others. The findings gave a basis for making recommendations for youth polytechnics to use income generating activities (IGAs) to raise extra finances to fund their programs to offer quality education and training. This would ensure high job placement or self-employment of the graduates and hence enhance productivity and economic growth.
Description
Department of Educational Management, Policy and Curriculum Studies, 81p. The LC 67 .K4M7 2011
Keywords
Education --Economic aspects --Kenya --Imenti South District, Education --Economic aspects --Kenya --Imenti South District