Youth Polytechnic Students’ Perception Of Vocational Training In Nandi County, Kenya

Every year, over 550,000 pupils sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and only about 70% secure admission in secondary schools. As a remedy, Youth Polytechnics (YPs) provide alternative avenues as institutions of learning so as to absorb those who do not proceed to secondary schools. YPs offer school leavers opportunity to acquire competitive skills and knowledge for gainful employment. However despite the rationale for the introduction of YPs to equip youth with skills, there are increasing concerns regarding YP students’ perception of vocational training. The purpose of the study was to investigate and describe YP students’ perception of vocational training in Nandi County, Kenya. The overall objective of this study was to investigate YP students’ perception of vocational training. Other objectives were:- to ascertained YP students’ perception of instructor competencies, to establish YP students’ perception of skills learnt, to investigate YP students’ perception of teaching strategies and methods of training and lastly to explore YP student challenges experienced. The study used a cross sectional survey design in which both quantitative and qualitative data were collected on sampled YPs in Nandi County, Kenya. YP students’ perception and vocational training were dependent and independent variables respectively. The target population was 1521students, 34 instructors and 12 principal managers in YPs in Nandi County, Kenya.  Purposive and cluster sampling techniques were used to pick 6 YPs, 17 instructors and 6 principal managers respectively. Principal Managers are the heads of YPs. Thirty percent trainees were sampled from a total population of 1521which turned out to be 457. The data collection instruments were questionnaires, interview schedules and documentary analysis checklist prepared for students, instructors and principal managers.