As more than 4.5 million youths in the country continue to struggle with joblessness, students joining universities have been urged to choose courses wisely to enable them to compete effectively in the job market.
In a bid to build a resilient workforce, Veronica Nduta, an expert in hospitality, tourism and international relations challenged the students to ensure their courses of study will help them secure employment opportunities in the shrinking job market.
While the joblessness disaster in the country has often been attributed to the disconnect between the education offered and demands in the job market, Nduta warned the learners against undertaking courses they are not familiar with simply because they want to have a university degree.
Speaking during Zetech University Open Day in Ruiru, Kiambu County, the expert noted with concern that many students choose courses out of pressure from friends and parents only to drop them along the way after things go haywire.
“Many choose courses because of what their friends are choosing and or what their parents want. We have open forums such as this to enlighten the students to make informed choices that will see them thrive,” noted Nduta.
She noted with concern that many students and universities remain tied to outdated program structures, leaving graduates ill-prepared for the realities of today’s job market.
On the other hand, reports indicate that many educational institutions in Kenya continue to churn out graduates with degrees that do not align with the skills needed in today's economy.
With the government having reviewed the education system in the country with a view to ensuring the curriculum and training offered to students meet the needs of the country as envisaged in Vision 2030, Dr Henry Kiogora, the head of the Department of Business and Economics at the private varsity noted the need to identify the talents of pupils at the early stages of education to enable them to pursue their careers and exploit them fully.
“It is not a matter of pursuing a course to be employed but what you will do with the skills earned throughout the season of learning. We are encouraging our students to have key skills that align with the market to ensure that should they fail to be employed, they will be in a better position to start an income generation activity that will better their living,” noted Kiogora.
At a time when Kenya continues to face a youth bulge with 75% of the Kenyan population being aged below 35 years old, stakeholders were challenged to address the great challenge of youth unemployment in Kenya to ensure the youth contribute to sustainable and inclusive social-economic development of their country
