Kenya’s Graduate Dilemma: The Jobless Landscape After Graduation.
As various universities across the nation prepare for their graduation ceremonies, many graduates express a sense of disappointment and concern about their futures.
Facing an alarmingly high unemployment rate, these graduates feel they have little to celebrate, as the struggle to secure employment casts a shadow over their achievements.
At Zetech University’s Mangu Campus graduation ceremony, several graduates acknowledged the relief of completing their studies and beginning a new chapter.
However, they also recognized the reality of competing with millions of others for the limited jobs available in the country. This employment scarcity has diminished the allure of a university education for many, despite the financial sacrifices their families made.
Mental Strain of Unemployment Among Graduates
Enocentus Wambua, an IT degree graduate, noted the mental toll that unemployment has on graduates. He described how joblessness among qualified young people has made the pursuit of university degrees seem less worthwhile.
The possibility of remaining unemployed for years after completing their studies, he said, can lead to despair, adding that some peers have experienced depression due to prolonged joblessness, despite holding marketable degrees.
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For graduates like Irene Kimani, furthering education has become a strategy to improve marketability. With current job prospects looking slim, she expressed her intent to pursue advanced studies to increase her chances of finding employment.
She pointed out that in today’s job market, degrees alone may not suffice, suggesting that graduates must consider either entrepreneurship or innovation to succeed.
Wisdom Njoroge and Cecile Okoye, also recent graduates, emphasized the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and the industry to facilitate job placements. They see industry partnerships as a potential solution to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Institutional Efforts and Government Intervention
Graduates called on the government to implement policies that support youth employment. They believe that active government involvement is essential to creating job opportunities and addressing the current employment crisis.
The youth unemployment challenge, they feel, requires coordinated efforts from both government and higher education institutions.
Professor Njenga Munene, Vice Chancellor of Zetech University, addressed these concerns by underscoring the university’s commitment to innovation in academic programming.
He urged other institutions to offer market-driven courses, focusing on skills that foster both employability and entrepreneurial capability.
To this end, Zetech University has adopted programs such as Computer Engineering, IT, and Nursing, designed to empower graduates with practical skills.
These programs, he noted, have been developed with market demands in mind, aiming to prepare students for both self-employment and traditional job roles.
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Professor Munene emphasized that youth unemployment is a pressing issue, and universities should actively work with stakeholders to address it.
Zetech’s proactive approach in providing relevant education seeks to equip graduates to thrive in the current job market or venture into self-employment.
During the recent ceremony at the university’s Juja Campus, a total of 2,556 students graduated across various disciplines, ready to confront the job market challenges ahead.
Kenya’s Graduate Dilemma: The Jobless Landscape After Graduation.
