Many young people in Kenya pursue degrees in various fields only to end up joining the list of unemployed graduates.
This is because many pursue careers that are not marketable. Wrong career choice is likely to increase the number of unemployed graduates in the country, highlighting the need for career counseling.
While artisan courses are associated with students who have failed their KCSE exams, they are among the best courses to pursue in Kenya. This is owed to the fact that there are very few artisans in the country despite being highly needed in the industry sectors. The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) offers various artisan courses to KCSE graduates who score D- and E.
The courses are divided into clusters and each cluster offers different artisan courses such as plumbing, welding, electrical installation, masonry, carpentry, hairdressing, and beauty therapy. Below are courses offered under the following clusters:
Business: Storekeeping, Secretarial, Supply chain management, Office assistance
Building and Construction: Building technology, Building construction technology, Masonry, Trade test masonry, Masonry level four, Grade 3 in masonry, Plumbing, Plumbing works, Plumbing and building services, Plumbing level four, Plumbing technology, NVCET in plumbing, Welding and fabrication, Manual arc welding level four, Trade test grade 3 in motor vehicle mechanics
Engineering and Technology: Electrical installation, Electrical and electronics technology, Automotive engineering, Motor vehicle mechanics
Information Technology: Information Communication Technology
Technical Courses: Carpentry, Carpentry and joinery, Plumbing, Plumbing and building services, Welding and fabrication, Trade test in beauty therapy, NVCET in hairdressing and beauty therapy technology, NVCET hairdressing, and beauty therapy
How to Choose the Right Course
Below are some tips to help you narrow down your choices to come up with a course that best suits your career goal:
- Interests
Choose a course you are interested in as it will help you enjoy your career in the future. It will also motivate you to work hard because it’s something you love.
- Employment rate
As aforementioned, many graduates are unemployed because of taking less marketable courses. Before making a decision on which course to take, study the market first.
- Course Content
Sometimes students take courses and end up dropping them in the second semester because things get tougher on the way. To avoid this, research the course content modules. Know what the course entails.
- Cost
Do not choose a course that you cannot afford. It feels so embarrassing to take a course and later drop it due to financial problems.
- Aptitude
Assess your skills and talents. You may know what you want, but do you know what you are good at? Choose a course that allows you to explore both your interests and skills.
