Role Of Youth Polytechnics In Training Youths For Self-Employment: A Case Of Homa Bay County-Kenya

Abstract

The study examined the role of Youth Polytechnics in training the youth for self- employment in Homa Bay County. Unemployment among the youths renders them desperate and deprives them of basic means of life support which makes them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and marginalization. Economic development is crucial for the achievement of Vision 2030 hence the importance of the Youth Polytechnics in empowering the youths through appropriate skills. The purpose of the study was to examine the role of Youth Polytechnics in preparing the youths to join self-employment in Homa Bay County. The study was guided by the following objectives: To examine the skills taught in Youth Polytechnics in training youths for self- employment in Homa Bay County; to examine the challenges in access and equity in training the youth in Youth Polytechnics for self-employment in Homa Bay County; to determine the graduation rate of youths in Youth Polytechnics in Homa Bay County and to determine the extent of government support to Youth Polytechnics in training the youth for self-employment in Homa Bay County. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of Youth Polytechnics and how they relate to self- employment in Homa Bay County. The study was guided by human capital theory by Theodore W. Schultz. Descriptive survey design was used and purposive sampling technique was used to get the 18 managers and 1 county vocational officer in charge of TIVET while cluster sampling was used to select 380 students out of total population of 1265. A total of 320 students responded to the questionnaires. A pilot study of youth polytechnics was conducted to establish the reliability of the instrument using a split-half technique. Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient was used to arrive at the relationship between the two tests. A correlation coefficient of 0.832 was realized from the two tests. The validity was established by giving the instrument to the supervisors in the department of Educational Administration Planning and Economics at Kisii University. Data was collected using questionnaires for the trainees and interview schedule for managers and county vocational training officer. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, means, tables and graphs. Data was also analyzed using (SPSS Version 20) computer programme. The study found out that key skills like technical drawing (48.8%) and driving (30.9%) are missing from the course units in the youth polytechnics. The study also found out that bursary to students in youth polytechnics is inadequate though it constitutes a bigger percent of total revenue to the youth polytechnics. Review of the courses is recommended to include the missing course units. The government also needs to increase its budgetary allocations to the youth polytechnics in Homa Bay County. Bursary at the constituency and sub county level should also cater for the trainees in the youth polytechnics. Further study should be considered on the assessment of the implications of current policies on vocational education and investigating the alternative sources of financing TIVET sector in Kenya. Due caution was taken to ensure fear is eliminated from the respondents by explaining that the information given will be used for data analysis and for the purpose of this study only.