Influence of Institutional Factors on Supply of Trained Artisans in the Construction Industry at Vocational Training Centersin Mombasa County, Kenya

Abstract

Globally, the construction industry is growing at a high rate. Demand for trained, skilled human labour in such a vibrant industry remains a concern to researchers and physical planners. This research may support the GOK in its endeavor to be an industrialized state with a middle-income population with decent affordable housing. However, the construction industry remains with no enough skilled artisans to provide skilled 14 labour. It is against this background that the study focused on the influence of institutional factors on supply of trained artisans in the construction industry at vocational training centers in Mombasa County, Kenya. The study was guided by four specific objectives; the relevancy of VTCs' construction artisan course offered for training, VTCs' tutor capacity influence in artisans training, VTCs' duration of assessment and certification of artisans, and the influence of VTCs and construction industry collaboration on the supply of trained artisans in the construction industry. The study employed a descriptive study design, and the target population was 10 VTCs, 10 principals, 10 academic directors, 122 tutors, and 248 students in the County. For sampling, the researcher used Calmorin and Calmorin, (2007) formula for tutors and enrolled students whose population was above 100. The researcher also employed Krejcie et al, (1970) table for college principals and academic directors whose population was up to 10. With two sampling techniques, data was collected from the 10 VTCs in the County. The research instruments employed were questionnaires, document study guide, observation, and interview guide. Questionnaires were administered to 248 students, 120 tutors, and 10 academic directors, and 10 principals. For the validity of the research instruments, the assigned university supervisors looked at all the instruments and field data collected by the researcher himself. Qualitative data was analyzed qualitatively. Codes and themes were given manually by the researcher. Statistical information, which was quantitative data, was analyzed with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). Frequency distributions, means, and percentages which are descriptive statistics were run on all the data. Qualitative data gained from the interview and open-ended questions were analyzed qualitatively through content analysis and prepared into themes and patterns consistent with the research questions. The study found out that, the relevancy of artisan courses offered in VTCs to train artisans did not affect the capacity of skilled artisans demanded and supplied in the construction industry. Tutors' capacity to some extent influenced the training and supply of skilled artisans in the construction industry. Vocational Training Center's duration of assessment and certification of artisans' courses influenced the supply of trained artisans in the construction industry. Finally, VTCs and the construction industry's collaboration in artisan training did not influence the supply of trained artisans in the construction industry. The government through the TVETA body should have accreditation of artisan courses in the VTCs seeking new course roll out aligned to labour market demands of various sectors in the economy to control involuntary skilled graduates' unemployment. The government should convert some of the teacher training colleges into TVET tutor training colleges with an array of TVET tutor courses to end the shortage of specialized tutors in TVET. TVETA should emphasize the CBETT curriculum in all TVET institutions to end the shortage of skilled and trained artisans in the construction industry. TVET remains a vital sector in human capital development in the country. Right courses, specialized trained tutors and the right curriculum in the VTCs will see the country achieve its 2030 vision that is anchored in the massive skilled population that can utilize the available resources with great innovation and invention.