Leadership and management practices of TVET programmes beyond 2015 MDGs in Kenya

Abstract

This paper looks at the role of the Ministry of Education, Gender, Youth, Sports and ICT in the professio nal development of Youth Polytechnics managers as mandated to provide Quality Education and Training in Youth Polytechnics. Youth Polytechnics are a major vehicle that is mandated to drive the entire TVET programme in Kenya. These Youth Polytechnics over t he years have been provi ding vocational training to youths in the country with aim of ensuring meaningful engagement and sustainable livelihoods. In the process of leading and managing the various functions in these institutions Youth Polytechnic managers face various challenges. These include understanding and implementing TVET policies and legal framework, procurement bottlenecks, financial management, record keeping, change management, conflict resolution, among others. One core reason which contributes to ineffective management is lack of capacity as management practices that are dynamic thus dictating a refreshing capacity building to keep abreast with emerging management issues. This paper focuses specifically on the legal framework and TVET policies t hat are a pre - requisite for Youth Polytechnics managers to the effective leadership and management of the TVET programmes in their training institutions which are underpinned in the Kenya constitution as well as the TVET Act of 2013. The paper adopts docu ment analysis method to draw on the TVET policies and the legal framework. This is solely to help the managers understand and appreciate the existing TVET policies and the legal framework within which they are supposed to operate in providing effective lea dership and management practices in the implementation of the TVET programmes at the Youth Polytechnic level especially beyond 2015 MDGs. This paper is significant to the field of comparative and International education, since it provides data on what the Kenyan government is doing in promoting the development of TVET especia lly in light of the Vision 2030, which is a reflection beyond 2015 MDGs. The professional development of Youth Polytechnic managers is critical for effective implementation of TVET prog rammes in any country. The paper further proposes to use the human capital development theory. The major aim of TVET programmes is to produce skilled manpower for the various sectors of the economy ranging from the industry, agriculture, manufacturing, ICT and the service sectors