The role of technical and vocational education training in entrepreneurial development in South Rift region, Kenya

Abstract

Technical and vocational education training (TVET) provides knowledge and skills for employment which sharpens human skills and improves quality, productivity, innovation and efficiency. The major challenges in the Kenyan TVET system is lack of quality training, none utilization of innovation techniques, not performing practical experiments and also not using information communication technology fully for entrepreneurial skills development. In the South Rift region, adequate quality training, practical entrepreneurship curriculum, attitude towards entrepreneurship through innovation and regular use of ICT knowledge has not been evaluated with the policies, lacking practical approaches towards this gap. The objectives of the study were; to determine TVET quality training effect on student’s entrepreneurial development; to assess TVET innovation effect on respondents’ entrepreneurial development and to evaluate TVET use of ICT knowledge impact on student’s entrepreneurial development. The significance of the study was that TVET could acquire entrepreneurship knowledge by use of information and communication technology by use of e-learning, networking and digital learning for global exposure which leads to knowledge-based economy. The study was based on the neo-classical theory, the innovative theory, and the alert theory of entrepreneurship. The study employed descriptive design in which a sample of 384 respondents was drawn from a total population of 10000. Structured questionnaires were used in collection of data. Validity was assured by seeking expert opinion in order to reduce questionnaire ambiguity before development of the final tools. A test re-test was done by piloting the research instrument in Bureti Technical Institute in Kericho County where Cronbach coefficient of 0.846 was obtained. The collected data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively by use of questionnaires. The study concludes that; TVET quality training, innovative skills and ICT knowledge impact on student’s entrepreneurial skills development and practical skills. The study recommends that it is TVET institution should improve on its ICT infrastructure since it reduces the cost of operation and that they should collaborate through public private partnership so as to enhance the quality of their graduates.