Many Students Joking Teaching Courses This Year, Reason
The government has long debated abolishing several university and college courses due to their unmarketability.
The late Prof. George Magoha, who served as the Education Cabinet Secretary at the time, hinted that 98 courses with low enrolment rates would be dropped in April 2019.
Fascinatingly, President William Ruto urged pupils to steer clear of sociology and anthropology classes in October 2018 while he was Deputy President because he believed they were ineffective.
There are valid worries currently about the employability of some courses.
More than 100 courses drew less than ten students apiece during the university placement cycle of 2023, according to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
Positive changes have occurred despite these challenges. According to the report, almost 30,000 of the more than 140,000 students that the commission assigned to various colleges have decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Interestingly, despite having the qualifications to pursue more specialised fields like Pharmacy, Medicine, or Architecture, Teaching Courses have Attracted Many Students
According to Professor Raphael Nyonje, a professor in the Department of Education at the University of Nairobi, enrollment in this subject is expected to rise as a result of the nation’s shifting employment trends.
There are many full-time teaching positions available in both public and private schools, as well as part-time teaching positions that are board-employed, which many new teachers take. These opportunities are uncommon in many disciplines, the professor observed.
The professor thinks that because of the current economic climate, students are choosing employment security over career status.
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Prof. Nyonje added that since teachers can be trained to become instructors or peer educators, many professionals prefer to recruit them.
He mentioned that a lot of bankers prefer to have a business and maths teacher on their teams. This choice results from the conviction that, given their versatility and skill set, these teachers can play a crucial part in educating others.
He claims that the modern labour market values skills, adaptability, and value addition. He claims that in the present job market, these qualities will set candidates apart.
The majority of students, according to Prof. Nyonje, may have come to this conclusion and applied for education courses even though they were qualified for other courses.
He said it’s important to remember that teachers have the opportunity to play a variety of roles in society. He emphasised that a foundation in teaching can help people transfer easily into a variety of jobs, businesses, or even community service projects.
The lecturer attributed the increasing number of pupils enrolled in school to recent changes in university education funding.
According to the administrator, more students who previously pursued alternative degrees at private colleges would now enrol in public universities.
However, as a result of recent educational reforms, many students now attend public institutions instead of private ones, where they previously received government funding for their attendance.
According to the professor, this modification has led students to look for the most accessible and lucrative course that is offered nearby. It appears that many of them have chosen to pursue schooling.
He reaffirmed that the University of Nairobi is equipped to handle the massive influx of new students at the beginning of September.
Many Students Joking Teaching Courses This Year, Reason
