The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) has released its annual beneficiary satisfaction survey for the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP).
The survey conducted among 1,300 graduates from 2023 across 16 Regional Flagship TVET Institutes (RFTIs) in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania assessed student satisfaction with their education and employer satisfaction with graduates’ skills and employability.
The survey also gathered input from 145 employers of the graduates and conducted key informant interviews with key stakeholders and education policymakers.
The study found high overall graduate satisfaction (84%), which demonstrates the impact of EASTRIP in enhancing the quality of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
There was also a notable increase in employability of TVET graduates, rising from 41% the previous year to 58% in 2023. The transport and logistics sector experienced the most notable growth, with employment rates jumping from 38% to 68%.Male graduates continue to have higher employment rates than females, although female employability also improved.
Graduates reported higher incomes after completing their TVET education compared to their pre-TVET earnings, which highlights the program’s positive impact on their financial well-being.
The Regional Project Coordinator for EASTRIP, Dr. Cosam Joseph, said: “The fifth year of the EASTRIP project has shown encouraging results, with a significant increase in graduate employability and consistently high levels of satisfaction among both graduates and employers.”.
Employer satisfaction with TVET graduates remained high at 86%. Employers highly rated graduate competence (88%) and the relevance of their skills (91%).
Notably, 88% of employers provided on-the-job training to graduates, which indicates a strong commitment to their career development.
Ethiopian employers reported the highest satisfaction rates, followed by Kenya and Tanzania. However, concerns regarding graduates’ lack of experience and work ethic were raised by some employers.
Despite the overall positive trends, the report also identifies areas for improvement, which include inadequate practical training, insufficient resources and infrastructure, limited job opportunities aligned with acquired skills, incomplete course delivery, and limited industry linkages. “The report also highlights critical areas that need our attention. We must prioritize practical training aligned with industry needs, address concerns about teaching quality, and ensure that graduates have access to adequate resources and infrastructure,” Dr. Cosam said.
The report offers several recommendations to address these challenges and further enhance the project’s impact, including strengthening industry-aligned practical training by fostering stronger partnerships with employers, improving teaching quality by investing in educator professional development, and ensuring consistent course delivery.
Moving forward, we will focus on strengthening partnerships with industries to enhance the relevance of TVET programs and improve graduate outcomes. We remain committed to empowering youth and women in East Africa with the skills they need to thrive in the evolving job market and contribute to the region’s economic growth,” Dr. Cosam said.
The EASTRIP project is a collaborative effort between the World Bank and the governments of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania to increase the access to and quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in East Africa and to support regional integration.
