This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On World Youth Skills Day, marked yesterday, the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions was stark. The institutions have been closed, threatening the continuity of skills development.
A joint survey by Unesco, ILO, and the World Bank found that virtual training is the most common way of imparting skills. However, this approach poses significant challenges, including curricula adaptation, trainee and trainer preparedness, connectivity, and assessment and certification processes.
Kenya's youth are particularly affected, with 75% of the population under 35. Despite high levels of education and a literacy rate of 88%, as reported by the World Bank in 2018, Kenya continues to record high rates of unemployment.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, about 35% of youth are unemployed. The skills they possess do not match the labour market demands, says the '2019 Youth Skills Survey' report by the Aga Khan University (AKU) on youth entry-level skills.
Those who acquire employment face challenges, including low-quality jobs, low pay, and greater labour market inequalities. The pandemic has also affected the wholesale and retail sector, with many businesses closing down.
There is a need to have skills such as ICT, digital marketing, sales, and marketing, and entrepreneurship and soft skills taught in TVETs for adaptability and sustainability of businesses in the changing world of work.
The uptake of technology has been slow, with a Fitch Solutions survey showing that this has decreased revenues. The Covid-19 pandemic has lowered consumer spending growth outlook to 4.8% in 2020 from a pre-Covid forecast of 6.1%.
Ms. Mbuvi is a research fellow at the Aga Khan University's East Africa Institute.
