AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY TEACHER TRAINING CURRICULUM AT UNIVERSITY OF ELDORET, KENYA: RELEVANCE TO JOB MARKET

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Automotive Technology teacher education curriculum offered at the University of Eldoret with a focus on the relevance of the Automotive Technology teacher education curriculum to the job market. The study facilitates university policy makers with relevant information on policies that would stimulate Technical Teacher Education to be more relevant to the job market. The main objective of the study focused on five main issues related to the Automotive Technology teacher education curriculum. These issues are the objective of education, nature of control of education quality, the training processes, the feedback mechanism, training resources and the nature in which the training system relates to its environment. This explorative case study used purposive sampling to arrive at a sample of 21 target institutions. Mixed method was used and thus questionnaires, document analysis, and observations were employed to generate data. The study utilized content analysis approach in analyzing qualitative data. Quantitative data was coded and analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The main findings of the study indicate that the University of Eldoret Automotive Technical teacher Education Curriculum theory content is relevant to the job market while the practical content is not relevant to the job market requirements. Further, the curriculum had failed to provide relevant curriculum materials, appropriate curriculum evaluation criteria and providing relevant linkage with the work environment. Thus, the study recommends that, the curriculum and subject purpose to be included in the curriculum and subject respectively. Further, the course subjects should be revised to match job market requirements and the university to upgrade the training facilities to match job market requirements. Conversely, the curriculum and subject evaluation criteria should be re-evaluated to suit job market demands and Technology Education Department to expeditiously address challenges facing Automotive Technology curriculum.