Why Teaching Courses Have Attracted Many Students
Due to their lack of marketability, the government has long contemplated eliminating certain university and college courses.
The then-Education Cabinet Secretary, the late Prof. George Magoha, alluded to the possibility of eliminating 98 courses with low enrollment rates in April 2019.
Interestingly, in October 2018, when he was Deputy President, President William Ruto advised students to avoid sociology and anthropology courses, deeming them to be unproductive.
Presently, there are legitimate concerns regarding the employability of certain courses.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has revealed that during the university placement cycle of 2023, more than one hundred courses attracted fewer than ten students each.
Despite these obstacles, there have been positive developments. Approximately 30,000 of the over 140,000 students assigned by the commission to various universities have chosen to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Education, according to the report.
Remarkably, despite having the credentials to pursue more specialized disciplines such as Pharmacy, Medicine, or Architecture, Teaching Courses have Attracted Many Students
Professor Raphael Nyonje, a professor in the Department of Education at the University of Nairobi, explained that they anticipate an increase in enrollment in this field due to the country’s altering employment trends.
There are ample employment opportunities for teachers in public and private schools, either on a full-time basis or, as many new teachers do, as board-employed part-time teachers. These kinds of chances are not present in many fields,” the professor noted.
The professor believes that the current economic situation has prompted students to prioritize job security over professional prestige.
Prof. Nyonje also stated that many professionals prefer to hire teachers because they can be molded into instructors or peer educators.
He noted that many bankers tend to favor the inclusion of a business and mathematics teacher within their teams. This preference stems from the belief that these teachers can play a pivotal role in imparting knowledge to others, given their adaptability and skill set.
According to him, the current job market seeks talents, adaptability, and value addition. According to him, these characteristics will distinguish candidates in the current job market.
Prof. Nyonje argues that the majority of students may have reached this conclusion and have applied for education courses despite being qualified for other courses.
He mentioned that it’s essential to keep in mind that teachers possess the potential to assume diverse roles within society. He emphasized that a teaching background can seamlessly transition individuals into various professions, business ventures, or even community service initiatives.
The professor cited recent changes in university education funding as a contributing factor to the large number of students enrolled in school.
The administrator stated that public universities will now receive more students who previously pursued alternative courses at private institutions.
However, as a result of recent education reforms, many students have sought refuge in public universities, whereas previously the government still financed their attendance at private universities.
This change, according to the professor, has caused students to seek out the most readily accessible and marketable course closest to their location. It turns out that many of them have settled for education.
He confirmed that the University of Nairobi is prepared to facilitate the large number of incoming students in early September.
Why Teaching Courses Have Attracted Many Students
