Determinants of enrolment in youth polytechnics: a case of Uhuru youth polytechnic in Isiolo county, Kenya

Abstract

This study was about determinants of youth polytechnics enrolment case of Uhuru youth polytechnic in Isiolo County. Chapter one gives an overview on the subject matter from a global, African and Kenyan perspective starting from the colonial period to the present day governrnent policy on youth polytechnics in Kenya. The global perspective captures the views of UNESCO/World Bank and eminent scholars on youth technical training from across the world. The general research objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of enrolment in youth polytechnics: a case of Uhuru Youth Polytechnic in Isiolo County. The research questions and objectives of the study were also set in this chapter.

This research problem was studied through the use of a descriptive research design. The target population of this study was the 35 students in Uhuru Youth Polytechnic, 15 Ministry of Youth Affairs' staffs currently serving in the Offices at Isiolo, 13 polytechnic Managers and 658 youths who did their KCPE in 2011 but did not join secondary school making a target population of 721 respondents. A sample of 60% respondents was drawn from 28 management, instructors and ministry staffs, a census of 35 students and 242 youths who did their KCPE in 2011 but never went to secondary school picked based on the Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) method. The total sample population for this study will be 721 respondents.

This study utilized a questionnaire. Data collected was purely quantitative and it was analyzed by descriptive analysis. This generated quantitative reports through tabulations, percentages, and measure of central tendency. The findings were presented using tables and frequency distributions. In addition, the researcher conducted a multiple regression analysis.

This study established that employability, variety of trade courses and applicability of trade courses was affecting the trainee enrolment rate in the youth polytechnic to great extent. It therefore made a recommendation that Youth polytechnics should ensure that the courses they teach have a ready market and are applicable. The study also found that quality of training affects the trainee enrolment rates in the youth polytechnic to a very great extent. The study therefore recommends that the management of the youth polytechnics should ensure that training methods used by trainers are of high quality. This study further therefore recommends that the management of youth polytechnics should ensure that the fee charged is reasonable and affordable to the residents of Isiolo County.