The village polytechnic progress, prospects and problems, a case study of Nyandarua district

Abstract

This project paper gives the overall findings of a study designed to assess the performance of village polytechnics in Nyandarua District in terms of the promotion of rural development, the attitude of trainees to employment prospects in the rural areas and the city and the extent to which the success of village polytechnics is dependent on the standard 01 living in the rural areas. In the sample of 12 village polytechnic most had been successful in placing their leavers in employment in their local areas although no consistent monitoring of leaves had been done at the time of the survey. Although most of the trainees interviewed expressed a desire to in their home area, a sizeable minority expressed a preference to work in a town, particularly Nairobi although the general image of Nairobi is a village in a vague one. The role of village polytechnics in promoting rural development is seen as over- ambitious since the success of the village polytechnics tends to depend highly on the pre-existing levels of rural prospect Several problems restricting the development of village polytechnics are identified and solution suggested the greatest danger to the development of village polytechnics appear to be the growing lack of flexibility in organisation which prevents village polytechnics from reacting quickly enough to changes in the local economy. Recommendations are also made.