TIVET Trainees Attitudes Towards Technical Training in TIVET in Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Technical, Industrial, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Institutions provide a major link in the Kenyan economy by providing technical skilled personnel who occupy the mid-level positions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of graduates of technical training institutions in Nyeri County, Kenya. This study wanted to establish TIVET trainee’s attitudes towards technical training in TIVET. The research was based on Context, Input, Process and Product Theory which holds that obtaining information about a situation to decide on educational needs and to establish programme objectives. The study adopted a descriptive study design and was located in Nyeri County. The target population comprised of 10 heads of applied sciences department, 45 supervisors from the companies where the trainees were attached and 275 trainees. The sample size used in the study comprised of 10 HODs, 55 trainees and 8 supervisors. The study employed the questionnaire was the primary data collection instrument. The research instruments were piloted to test for reliability and validity. The Reliability Coefficient for the TIVET Heads of Department Questionnaire was 0.767 and the TIVET Graduates Questionnaire at 0.748. All the above Reliability Coefficients were between 0.6 and 1.0 showing that the three questionnaires were reliable. Data analysis procedures employed were both quantitative and qualitative procedures using SPSS computer program. The Study showed that majority (62.5%) of the HODs and trainees (58.3%) noted that TIVET training was regarded as low class education by the public. The study found out that majority (62.5%) of the HODs noted that TIVET was theory based training and as such the trainees were less exposed to the practical aspects of their training a view that was supported by majority (77.1%) of the trainees. Based on the premises of discussions of the above findings, the study concludes that the public has a perception towards TIVET training as being a lower class education.