The Role of Technical and Vocational Training in Developing Countries

Abstract

Investing in the skills development of a nation through vocational training is a critical component of human capital development. Communities hold technical and vocational training in disdain and this has resulted in an influx of individuals who are enrolled in universities ultimately resulting in high unemployment. The high unemployment is exacerbated by the skills gap that exists in the nation where a number of graduates are channeled out yet without skills that meet the needs of the economy. The study sought to understand why communities are shunning technical and vocational training with the ultimate aim of finding lasting solutions to building confidence in technical and vocational training. The need to build confidence is rooted in the success stories of countries that placed emphasis on technical and vocational training as the route to providing critical skills to industry. The study made use of both qualitative and quantitative methods in the collection and analysis of data. The results from the study revealed that communities look down upon technical and vocational training due to the tribute that is given to university graduates, the association between vocational training and academic failure, poor infrastructure in vocational training institutions and intangible outcomes of the skills attained through technical and vocational training. The study recommends a deliberate investment in vocational training institutions by the government and the private sector. Mainstreaming technical and vocational training in the education curriculum is vital in advancing the development agenda on human capital development.