Determinants of enrollment in technical and vocational training in Youth polytechnics in Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Enrolment in any academic institution is crucial as far as that institution's existence and survival are concerned. This study sought to investigate the determinants of enrolment in technical and vocational training in youth polytechnics in Nyeri County. Three objectives guided the study; to establish the college related factors that influence enrolment in YPs, to determine the government policies that enhance enrolment in YPs and to establish the extent to which home- based factors influence enrolment in YPs. The theoretical framework of this study was derived from the human capital theory.

The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Data collection involved administering questionnaires to students and HODs and an interview schedule to provincial youth training officer. The target population comprised of 192 finalist's students, 85 HODs and the provincial youth training officer. A sample of 17 YPs was randomly selected.

A sample of 192 students from the sampled YPs was selected using stratified random sampling. The research instruments were validated using content. validity. The test re-test technique was used to measure the reliability ﾷof research instruments. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive 'statistics and presented in percentages and frequency distribution tables. The statistical package for social sciences computer package was used to analyze the data.

The key findings of the study show that inadequate and outdated physical facilities, irrelevant courses, low academic qualifications of trainers, inadequate trainers and parents' negative attitudes towards YPs influence enrolment of students in YPs in Nyeri County. The recommendations of the study were that; there is need for the government to provide adequate and modern equipment and tools, the courses offered in youth polytechnics should suit the labour market demands, attainment of pedagogical skills by trainers to enable them offer quality training to make YPs attractive, use of affirmative action to encourage female students to enrol in male dominated courses and the government need to sensitize the parents to change their negative attitudes towards the YPs. The study suggested that a similar study be carried out in other counties in the country for comparison purpose.