Access to and Retention of Early School Leavers in Basic Technical Education in Kenya

<section class="abstract"><p>Basic Technical Education in Kenya is fundamental to industrialization and national development (MSPNP, 2007). The objective of the reforms in Kenya is to improve access, equity and the quality and relevance of education and training at all levels. This chapter considers the revitalization of Youth Polytechnics (YPs) as a strategic approach to the development of technical competences in Kenya, especially for out-of-school youth. The YPs, which were once derided, have now become popular because of rising unemployment and many technological challenges in the workplace. Learners are admitted from different educational backgrounds, including those who left primary or secondary school early. The chapter provides a historical overview of basic technical education in Kenya, along with an analysis of early school leaving, the renewal of YPs, the Technical Industrial Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TIVET) initiative and a discussion of the issue of gender disparity. It finishes with a consideration of the challenges and dilemmas, which remain, followed by conclusions and recommendations.</p></section>