Trends and causes of wastage in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in Kenya: a survey of TVET institutions in rift valley province of Kenya

Abstract

The study was designed to establish the trend and the causes of wastage in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Rift Valley Province within the period 2002 to 2005. Government reports reveal examination failure as a phenomenon of Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions and yet resource allocation was on the rise. This provoked an investigation to determine the trend and causes of wastage in the institutions. The study hypothesised that there existed no relationship between wastage and the purported causes of wastage. The study adopted the production function model to examine the input-output relationship of the Ordinary Diploma cycle of the institutions under investigation. The research design chosen for the study is survey research. Stratified and purposive sampling techniques were employed to select Rift Valley Province, one National Polytechnic, one Institute of Science and Technology and four Technical Training Institutes for the study. Simple random sampling was used to select Ordinary Diploma cycle and student-repeaters for the study. Research instruments comprised of questionnaires and institutions documents. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Respondents included Principals, Heads of Department and student repeaters. The study revealed that most students repeated (40.90%) as required by Technical and Vocational Education and Training authority after performing poorly in examinations. The main reason for dropping out is inability of parent/guardian to pay fees (33.33%). Generally, wastage was on a rising trend and was higher for males than for females. The study recommended more emphasis to be put on practical/projects components in Technical and Vocational Education and Training evaluation. Also, Constituency Development Fund and Higher Education Loans Board should set aside more funds to aid students from less endowed economic backgrounds.