Influence of Provision of Technical Skills on Socio-economic Status of College Graduates: a Case of Mully College,machakos County,kenya

Abstract

The study sought to analyse the influence of provision of Technical Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) has on the Socio-economic status of the College graduates. Most learners, who fail to proceed with formal education, either grow up with no skills or join Technical Vocational Institutions to acquire skills for gainful income. The study was to determine what links existed between Technical Vocational skills such as Hairdressing, Tailoring and dressmaking, Carpentry and Masonry and the socio economic status of those who acquire them. Whereas, there has been students graduating from Mully College since 2006, there has been no study to determine if indeed they (graduates) use the acquired skills in getting or creating jobs. A target population of 65 graduates was studied out of whom using purposive sampling; Twenty-five respondents were interviewed during the research. The questionnaires and oral interviews were used to collect data from the respondents with an 86% response rate. The study established that Technical vocational skills has positive influence on the socioeconomic status of the college graduates and that 74.% of the respondents pride to use the skills gained in getting or creating jobs. Findings revealed that College Trainees/youths require certain form of skills to gainfully and competitively participate in job market. This study demonstrated that vocational skills training offered goes a long way in alleviating poverty, decreasing families and individuals suffering, and improving the socio-economic status for those who gain such skills in society. The Insights from the analysis have informed strategies for strengthening TVET admitting students who might have dropped out from formal education or did not proceed with formal education.