FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO LACK OF EMPLOYABLE SKILLS AMONG TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION (TVET) GRADUATES IN TANZANIA

Abstract

Currently, employers in Tanzania are seriously concerned about the lack of employable skills among technical education graduates given that they undergo Competency-Based Education and Training which exposes them to right knowledge, skills and attitude. This paper therefore explores factors contributing to lack of employable skills among Technical and Vocational Education graduates in Tanzania and recommend ways of training technical graduates who are more labour market responsive. The paper utilises Historical Dialectical Materialism approach, which suggests looking into the past and present in order to properly understand why contemporary technical education graduates lack employable skills and how to fix the problem. Drawing on secondary data and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders the findings show that lack of job competencies among graduates fundamentally emanates from poor training at primary and secondary levels resulting from incompetent teachers and inadequate facilities. The problem is further fuelled by ineffective curriculum, incompetent lecturers, less emphasis on general knowledge and skills as well as lack of career guidance at higher training levels. Furthermore, these weaknesses have been constantly fertilised by ineffective development as well as unfavourable educational policies and reforms. These factors should be holistically addressed in order to produce more labour market responsive TVET graduates. The paper makes several contributions. Policy wise, the paper contributes insights on how to promote employment through strengthening education system in Tanzania. On pedagogical strategies the paper sheds light on the ways in which instructors and institutions can be supported to equip students with more employable skills.