Dilemma as Form Four leavers unable to choose right unversity courses
When Peter Karanja failed to secure his favourite course, a degree in criminology during the placement of university students last year by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service (KUCCPS) he was distraught. Instead, he was offered to pursue a degree in International Relations.
However, since he was so passionate about the course, he transfered to Egerton University where he got a chance to pursue his preferred course.
“Not being able to pursue the course in my institution of choice was disappointing,” he says.
Additionally, his parents were skeptical when he told them that he wanted to pursue criminology, but they later allowed him to do it after he convinced them the course would present many job opportunities for him.
Parental influence
Peter’s story is the tip of the iceberg, many Form Four leavers in the country face a plethora of challenges that make the process of choosing a course to pursue in the university, college and other tertiary institutions. While Peter had his eyes set on a specific career path, many students face issues, such as peer pressure, parental influence, misinformation, lack of mentorship programmes, among others when it comes to making life-changing career choices.
Recently, Form Four candidates all over the country had three weeks to submit their programme choices in the various categories — Degree, Diploma, Craft Certificate and Artisan.
However, as teachers from various schools admit, students displayed high level of ignorance towards specific career goals.
John Maingi* a biology teacher in a secondary school in Kiambu County says many candidates in his school could not settle on a career path they wish to follow to acquire skills that can lead them to this path.
“Most are not aware of various job profiles needed in the industry beyond the conventional roles. Many do not know what type of skill sets to build,” he says.
Dr Schola Meeni, a counselling psychologist and parent whose daughter is in the university cites lack of understanding between parents and their children on which course best suites them, which often ends up in parents forcing certain careers on their children. “Sometimes parents, instead of letting their children find their own passion, they have already decided what they want their children to become and in many cases forcing their wishes on them. A parent may have wanted to be a lawyer growing up, so, he will force his child to become a lawyer,” she remarks.
Mentorship needed
“Parents should strive to understand what their children want and at the same time, children should listen to their parents’ concerns, so that there is a balance,” she adds.
Maembu Nyamae, a father of three agrees. However, he points out that mentorship as the panacea to challenges facing young people, adding that form four leavers should use the period before joining college to do volunteer work in their field of interest, before finally making up their mind. That way, they will be able to tell if their dreams are aligned with chosen career path. He shares that he wanted to be a doctor, but after going to the hospital and witnessing some horrific sights of patients, he thrashed the idea. “Some students go to the university without really knowing what they want to do and then realise that the course they were called to pursue or chose, isn’t for them. So they end up changing,” he shares.
Nyamai also says that parent’s influence is inevitable as their suggestions are critical to guide a child pick the right career. He says that he is encouraging his sons to follow his career path because he is well conversant with it. “If they can, they will be able to take after me because at some point I will need a successor,” the businessman says.
Misinformation, peer pressure
Prof David Gichoya, the Vice Chancellor, Kenya Methodist University says most Form Four leavers have limited information on the courses they intend to do. He says that some students end up pursuing courses they don’t want, because of the influence they get from their peers and misinformation.
She says sometimes students also force themselves to do certain courses because they have heard that they will earn a lot of money. However, when they come to practice it, they can’t endure it,” he says.
“As a parent, when you see the drive in your child, don’t kill it, instead, help them do it even better. If you can’t help, find someone to assist them,” she spoke during a career expore held at Kenya Methodist University, Nairobi Campus.
Dr Gichoya says that it’s not strange to find students who don’t know what they want to do, but he says universities have deans that will guide the students on the best courses. He also reiterated that secondary schools should always invite career coaches to talk to Form Fours and Form Threes. “In universities, students who are finding hard to choose a course should be referred to deans who will help them make the most appropriate choice. But secondary schools need to invite career counselors to talk to students. This will even motivate them to do even better in subjects, which are in line with their future careers,” he says in conclusion.
