The warning comes as thousands of university graduates continue to struggle with unemployment each year, despite holding degrees.
Speaking at Kaimosi Friends University in Vihiga County on Thursday, December 18, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba cautioned that universities risk producing graduates ill-equipped for real-world challenges if curricula remain disconnected from industry needs.
“We have reached a stage where universities are rolling out programmes and issuing qualifications that have no demand in the industry or the market. We must link our programmes to industry,” CS Ogamba stated.
The Education CS singled out the education program as a key concern. He revealed that roughly 40% of university students enrol in teacher training, yet the country only requires about 35,000 new teachers annually.
“In the last year alone, universities admitted over 100,000 teacher trainees. If we only employ 35,000, that leaves about 65,000 teachers every year who cannot be absorbed. We have already employed 100,000 teachers, yet many remain unemployed,” Ogamba explained.
To address this imbalance, CS Ogamba urged universities to diversify programs and focus on fields facing labor shortages, such as agriculture and technology, to ensure graduates have practical skills and employment opportunities.
Speaking at Kaimosi Friends University in Vihiga County on Thursday, December 18, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba cautioned that universities risk producing graduates ill-equipped for real-world challenges if curricula remain disconnected from industry needs.
“We have reached a stage where universities are rolling out programmes and issuing qualifications that have no demand in the industry or the market. We must link our programmes to industry,” CS Ogamba stated.
The Education CS singled out the education program as a key concern. He revealed that roughly 40% of university students enrol in teacher training, yet the country only requires about 35,000 new teachers annually.
“In the last year alone, universities admitted over 100,000 teacher trainees. If we only employ 35,000, that leaves about 65,000 teachers every year who cannot be absorbed. We have already employed 100,000 teachers, yet many remain unemployed,” Ogamba explained.
To address this imbalance, CS Ogamba urged universities to diversify programs and focus on fields facing labor shortages, such as agriculture and technology, to ensure graduates have practical skills and employment opportunities.
“We need to tweak our programmes to areas like agriculture, where we have shortages, so that we strike the right balance,” he added.
The event also saw the swearing-in of new council members at Kaimosi Friends University, with newly appointed chairperson Stanley Khainga pledging to raise educational standards and ensure programs remain relevant to industry needs.
Why Universities Continue to Produce Jobless Graduates
Graduate unemployment in Kenya has remained high due to multiple systemic challenges. Universities continue to produce more graduates than the economy can absorb, leading to intensified competition for limited jobs.
The event also saw the swearing-in of new council members at Kaimosi Friends University, with newly appointed chairperson Stanley Khainga pledging to raise educational standards and ensure programs remain relevant to industry needs.
Why Universities Continue to Produce Jobless Graduates
Graduate unemployment in Kenya has remained high due to multiple systemic challenges. Universities continue to produce more graduates than the economy can absorb, leading to intensified competition for limited jobs.
Additionally, economic growth in some sectors has not translated into proportional job creation, particularly for entry-level positions.
Many institutions continue to emphasize theoretical learning over practical experience, leaving students without technical or hands-on skills demanded by employers.
Many institutions continue to emphasize theoretical learning over practical experience, leaving students without technical or hands-on skills demanded by employers.
Weak collaboration between universities and industry further exacerbates the problem, as graduates often lack internship experience or exposure to real-world work environments.
Experts argue that addressing graduate unemployment requires coordinated reforms. These include modernizing curricula, strengthening university-industry partnerships, expanding internship opportunities, and guiding students toward career paths aligned with market demand.
CS Ogamba stressed that universities must adapt to evolving economic needs and focus on producing graduates who can actively contribute to national development, rather than overwhelming the job market with surplus graduates in saturated fields.
“Universities have a responsibility to ensure that graduates leave campus with skills that are in demand. If we fail to address this issue, we will continue to produce young people who struggle to find meaningful employment,” the CS said.
Experts argue that addressing graduate unemployment requires coordinated reforms. These include modernizing curricula, strengthening university-industry partnerships, expanding internship opportunities, and guiding students toward career paths aligned with market demand.
CS Ogamba stressed that universities must adapt to evolving economic needs and focus on producing graduates who can actively contribute to national development, rather than overwhelming the job market with surplus graduates in saturated fields.
“Universities have a responsibility to ensure that graduates leave campus with skills that are in demand. If we fail to address this issue, we will continue to produce young people who struggle to find meaningful employment,” the CS said.
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Kenya