Dr. Henry Kiptum Yatich

Dr. Henry Kiptum Yatich

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  Implementing New Models ToAddress Unemployment: A Kenya’s Perspective. Henry Yatich, Ph.D. Director of Technical Support, Content Development and Design Mount Kenya University, Kenya Going Global 2019 13-15 May 2019, Berlin Congress Center, Germany Going Global 2019 1
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  Introduction • Education remainsas the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world…Nelson Mandela. • Globally, all leaders and citizens ought to recognize the power of education as a unifying force that brings together individuals from diverse cultures, religions, economies, and beliefs to discuss matters affecting modern and future life and chart ways for a better tomorrow. • Reforms in Education has sought to dismantle centralized educational bureaucracies so as to create systems that emphasize efficiency, choice and competition. Thus creating quasi-markets in educational services (Whitty and Power, 2000). • Governance therefore, becomes key in ensuring reforms are matched with resource availability in an atmosphere of transparency and accountability so as to enhance continued innovative strategies of quality teaching and learning. Going Global 2019 2
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  Unemployment in Brief •Unemployment remains a political and economic challenge in the 21st century, hence a global challenge. • The global annual unemployment rate as of 2018 stood at 5.3%. European Area had 8.2%, Germany at 3.4%, USA at 3.9%, UK at 4% and Japan at 2.4% (OECD, 2019). • Annual unemployment rate as of 2018 in Kenya is placed at 7.4% (KNBS, 2018). • Skills mismatch has received and continues to receive renewed attention as the “major constraint” in both advanced and developing economies (ILO, 2014). • Unemployment in Kenya is attributed to under-education and over-education among university graduates who lack the practical skills required by the labour market (FKE, 2018; ILO, 2017; Handel et al., 2017; Hall, 2017; & CUE, 2016). • Technologies also, continue to replace lower-pay jobs making them redundant, exasperating. On the flipside, new technologies create possibilities in innovative ventures. Going Global 2019 3
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  A Peak intoEducation in Kenya • The Government of Kenya In 2003, introduced the “free” primary education programme (FPE) to boost access to education. • In 2008, the government of Kenya introduced the “free” secondary education programme (FSE) to boost access to secondary education. • As a result, approx. 1.1million Kenya Certificate of Primary Education candidates (KCPE) (^6.7%) were enrolled in 2018. • Approx. 660,000 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) (^7.1%) candidates were sat for the examinations (KNBS, 2019). Going Global 2019 4
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  Students Joining HEin Kenya-2018 • Candidates who scored a minimum university entry score of C+ (plus) and above, rose by 29.8% to Approx. 91,000 in 2018 (KNBS, 2019). • Candidates who scored between C (plain) and D+ (plus) was approx. 226,000. • Candidates who scored D (plain) and below stood at 343,897. • Both public and private universities (71) can accommodate approx. 100,000 applicants per year (83,675 in 2018/2019). • The difference in those entering university joined TVET in 2018. Hence, putting pressure on the existing facilities and locking out those with lower grades. • Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET/TTCs) have been expanded to accommodate approx. 300,000 students annually against approx. 580,000 locked out by university admission/qualification (KNBS, 2018). Going Global 2019 5
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  Employers Concerns • Hence,companies spend approx. Between 20,000 to 100,000 KES to train these graduates. Source: FKE, 2018 Going Global 2019 6
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  Job creation inKenya:2015-2018 132.1 87.6 114.4 78.4 715.2 742.1 795.4 762.2 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 2015 2016 2017 2018 Job Creation in Kenya ('000) Formal Sector Informal Sector Source: KNBS, 2019 • Each year, Approx. 1million young people join the workforce against the sum total of annual job creation, increasing unemployment (840,600 in 2018). • It is important to note that the economy is not able to absorb the workforce entering the market. Going Global 2019 7
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  What do theunemployed do? • According to the British media (daily mail), doctorate candidates in UK pay £2,000 (Sh264,000) to £6,000 for dissertations. • “Kenya is the hotbed where the writing happens. There is high unemployment and a job working from home is coveted. They have good English and low overheads,” Dr Thomas Lancaster, a senior fellow at Imperial College, London, was quoted by the British press as saying (Daily mail and Daily nation). • The allure for quick money pushes some to betting (more than 20 firms registered in kenya), crime, drug abuse and other social ills (such as fraudsters). • Few venture into entrepreneurship, while others surrender to hope for a job opportunity to arise. Going Global 2019 8
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  The New CBCSystem of Education: 2.6.6.3 • The first candidates to join university under the new CBC is expected to be 2030/2031 (12 years from now). Source: KICD, 2017 Going Global 2019 9
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  Pillars of theNew CBC: 2.6.6.3 • The new education framework (2- 6-6.3) has been implemented since 2017 to replace the current 8.4.4 system which has been in existence since 1985. • The new system is geared towards enabling learners to become engaged, empowered and provide world class standards in skill, knowledge and competence that is needed to thrive in the 21st century. Source: KICD, 2017 Going Global 2019 10
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  Role of HigherEducation-MKU perspective • University managers, through participatory approach should match its resource base with shared novel models of education such as the practical-oriented model-which is currently being started in the country and aim for home-grown solutions and interventions: • MKU has invested a seed capital of annual 100,000 USD for the Vice-Chancellor’s Research and Innovation grant which has led to the best global innovation award winner in April 2019 in Bahrain. • Mount Kenya University Mentorship, Innovation and Enterprise Fund (MIEF)received a generous initial 5-year funding from the University management through injection of USD400,000 in 2015 into the MIEF. From the fund, a total of 10 young apprentices (innovators/entrepreneurs) will benefit with initial seed grant of 8,000USD per year for every innovative business idea they competitively submit. • Chairman’s Innovation and Enterprise Award (CIEA) recognizes outstanding innovators as an incentive and a gesture of appreciation for their altruism during every graduation ceremony. • MKU through is GEA has entered into an exchange programme with the University of the West of Scotland for Centre for African research on enterprise and economic development (CAREED). This will see students from both universities benefit from an exchange programme in the areas of entrepreneur and economic research. Going Global 2019 11
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  Role of HigherEducation-MKU perspective • The Students Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP) has been introduced at MKU. STEP at MKU ( or STEP@MKU) targets the 2nd year students from any degree program at Thika Campus to start with as a pilot project before it is introduced at other campuses. • STEP is offered in about 15 countries throughout the world by Leuphana University (Germany). • In Kenya, it is offered in collaboration with Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM-UNESCO) and the hosting university (MKU in this case). • Curriculum review and other collaborative engagements with industry stakeholders is also underway with the first breakfast meeting with industry held on 21st February 2019 and SWISSCONTACT in April 2019 to review Bachelor of Commerce programme. • Stop-Gap Measure: For example“Generation”, a project funded by USAID, McKinsey & Company, Safaricom and SIDA was initiated to bridge the skill gap. It targets the graduated youth in preparing for job duties. Since 2015, they have graduated over 13,000 with 90% of them gaining employment. Going Global 2019 12
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  Conclusion There is anold saying that, “if you give a man/woman a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach him/her how to fish, you feed him/her for a lifetime”.. Suggested question: “How relevant are different models of governance to local challenges in varied contexts?” Thank You ALL Going Global 2019 13