Institutional Factors Influencing Access to County Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of institutional factors on access to County Vocational Education and Training institutions in Makueni County, Kenya. The study was informed by the existence of a large number of youths in the County who have not enrolled in CVETIs hence leading to high population of idle youths with low or no relevant employable skills which contributes to increased dependency ratio, high unemployment rates, engagement in drug and substance abuse and other social-evils. The study sought to investigate whether, the career guidance services influence access to County Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Makueni County, Kenya. The study was guided by Human Capital Theory (HCT). The study employed descriptive research design. The study targeted 28 registered Public Vocational institutions in Makueni County. The study used stratified simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques to obtain a random sample of 21 managers, 87 instructors and 316 trainees drawn from 21 randomly selected Vocational institutions. Questionnaires, interview schedule and an observation check list were used to collect data. Data were processed and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Descriptive statistics that is, frequency distributions, percentages, means and standard deviations were generated and used in describing and discussing the research findings. Statistical tests were done using a T-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 95% Confidence Interval of the difference (α=0.05). An independent sample t-test was conducted to compare mean difference between if career guidance influence access to county vocational education as well as training institutions and professional qualification of the managers. The findings of the study revealed that, Most of the vocational institutions have no organized and functional career guidance departments to provide in-depth information on individual courses, inadequate career guidance services has an influence on access to CVETIs and trainees’ career progression. Based on this findings the study recommended that the institutions should establish functional career guidance departments to provide in-depth information on individual courses and career guidance on vocational education to be introduced at the lower level of basic education.