Analysis of Infrastructural Support and Trainer Attributes in TVET Institutions in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to analyze infrastructural support and trainer attributes in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Kenya. TVET is acknowledged as a means of transforming and empowering the youth with skills, knowledge and attitudes to enable them become productive members of the society. The study sought: to establish the qualification of staff, determine training needs of staff, and to establish the status of equipment and physical facilities used for training in selected TVET institutions offering clothing and textile courses. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The samples included 8 technical institutes and 10 institutes of technology in Kenya offering courses in clothing and textile examined by Kenya National Examination Council. A total of 452 respondents consisting of 250 second year students taking a diploma course in clothing and textile participated in the study. Data was presented in the form of frequency tables, bar graphs, and pie charts. The results showed that the academic staff members were academically qualified; however, there was need for them to upgrade their technical skills. The study also found that there was need for further training for the academic staff in the institutions. On the status of equipment and physical facilities, 172 (86%) of the respondents indicated that the facilities were inadequate. It was recommended that the government should provide additional learning and training equipment to replace the outdated ones. Teachers should also upgrade their skills through further training.