World Bank warns unskilled graduates hurting Vision 2030

The World Bank once again has expressed concern over the quality of graduates being produced by the country’s universities and colleges.

In its report dated September 2015 titled Kenya’s Education Achievement and Challenges, the World Bank observes that the education system is failing to produce graduates with the knowledge, skills and competence needed to achieve Vision 2030 goals.

“Several deep-rooted issues continue to obstruct these desired outcomes,” said the report that was handed over to Education PS Bellio Kipsang last week.

The report comes in the wake of suspension of a number of courses by professional bodies such as the Council for Legal Education and Engineers Board of Kenya over failure by universities to observe minimum requirements in offering such courses.

The report cites the new or rebranded institutions at the Ministry of Education that are not fully functional thus limiting their daily operations and effectiveness, including the sectors’ attempt to enhance governance and accountability.

“There is the problem of weak coordination amongst the sector institutions, cultivating inefficiencies and duplication of efforts,” it says.

It further states that a lack of data is another major problem hindering the capacity for effective planning, monitoring, management and accountability.

The World Bank now warns that the prevailing low financing for development could negatively impact Kenya’s education outcomes.

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It adds that the education sector could surpass its performance record – by increasing the knowledge and skills of Kenyans for inclusive and sustainable development – if the reforms and challenges are effectively addressed.

The report further says the public system is riddled with fragmented coordination and management, as well as by low quality programmes. It adds that the technical and vocational training system is rooted in a rigid supply-driven approach with little or no linkages or relevance to the labour market.

“The system is large-spanning 1,870 institutions spread across several ministries and generally features students who were unable to join universities because of low academic scores.”

The World Bank says the sector has recorded a growth in enrolment, a prospect that could be hugely important for the country, but only if students receive quality education, and graduate on time with skills relevant in the labour market.

The report adds that the cost of self-sponsored higher education is prohibitive for most middle and low income families, limiting the impact of university education on economic growth.