Assessment of the Contribution of School Curriculum towards Youth Self-Employment in Kenya: Case of Youth Groups in Naivasha Sub-County

Abstract

In Kenya, the economic growth rate has not been sufficient to create enough employment opportunities to absorb the ever increasing labour force of about five hundred thousand (500,000) people annually. About seventy five percent (75%) of youth are unemployed. According to Infotrak Harris February 2013 survey, the most pressing issue facing Kenyan adults today is youth unemployment. The Human Capital theory asserts that more education brings more earnings or better employment. Yet youth unemployment has been growing despite the government spending more than three hundred billion shillings annually   on education. This study intended to assess the contribution of school curriculum on youth self employment in Naivasha Sub-County. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of school curriculum on self employment initiatives among the youth in Naivasha Sub-County. The research design was a descriptive study involving survey method. The study used primary data and secondary. The study population consisted of all the one hundred licensed youth groups with businesses in Naivasha Sub-County, Nakuru County. Stratified sampling technique was used to determine the sample size. Simple random sampling was used to select the sample from the stratified data.  Based on the population size, a sample size of eighty groups was selected by using the Sample size table. Data was collected using questionnaires. A pilot study was done to ensure reliability and validity of data collection instruments. The data was analysed using SPSS computer programme version 12 and regression. The results were presented in graphs, charts, tables and figures. Data collected may be significant in that it may help policy makers improve on existing youth self- employment strategies. The results are that school curriculum has contributed to youth self- employment initiatives.

Keywords: Education, employment, Curriculum