UNEMPLOYMENT OF YOUTH IN KENYA: IMPLICATIONS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the problems of unemployment of primary school leavers in Kenya and their implications for the primary school curriculum. In the light of findings, suggestions would be made for possible curriculum changes. The investigation included' an analysis of studies done on the unemployed primary school leavers and of the Kenya Primary School Syllabus. A tool consisting of four career elements (Motivation, Orientation, Exploration and Preparation) was used for detecting pre-vocational aspects in-the studies and the syllabus. It was found that due to constraints caused-by the strong desire for secondary education, the narrow and -mainly academic and verbal Certificate of Primary Education examination, and the high rates of repetition in the upper primary school classes, little of the pre-vocational elements written in the syllabus reaches the learners. The little pre-vocational skills and knowledge acquired by primary school leavers is adequate for the present simple type of employment available for them especially in the rural areas.