Why Most Graduates are Unemployable

Universities are channeling an average of 800000 individuals to the labor market annually, accounting for 39% of the national unemployment tally. The statistic pities the academy against the industry even as graduates find it cumbersome bridging the gap. But then, is the anomaly individual-specific or no one is in control? Read on!

A theory-centered approach

Getting it right from the start requires great effort. Perhaps, a worrying tradition centers upon regurgitation of ideas passed down by professors without ever interrogating their relevance or practicality. Accordingly, a hands-on learning experience has been sidelined by one dictated by the infamous copy and paste tool! For instance, why would communications be taught without the media in mind? Why would public relations (PR) class tread upon utopian pronouncement? Evidently, things are working theoretically but conspicuously missing the mark in practice!

Why the spoon-feeding?

Traditions depict the university as a congregation of minds. That is, it is the classical fume chamber for knowledge. Sadly, the citadels of mastery and creativity have voluntarily lain down the reins of idea generation. It is every freshman's dream to learn from the best as it is the case with archers. Nevertheless, the thirst for summarized notes or point-form handouts waters down the seriousness in these learning environments. A recent trend has been that of moving from one cyber to the other looking for cheap though carefully useless modules— those of a kind taking life in circles as though campus life were all about spinning some mythological wheel! So, why the huff in cramming unrealistic notes?

But we aren’t cutting the cloth according to size!

There has been a growing obsession with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) - related courses. Parents' perception of a wider market reach given the possibility of progress in the industry has sent many students to the gallows. For instance, why would an art enthusiast be squeezed through the hustles of the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC)? Admittedly, it is a suffocating undertaking provided that those directly affected are gagged, clipped, and domineered by bullies at home. It is apparent that a supposed support base engineers failure in discrediting the fact that people are abled differently and do have varied, even opposing, aspirations in life.

Of what use is an education that robs one off their happiness? I had a tourism-passionate classmate who took up a course in biochemistry to look nice to her parents but along the way, enrolled for a course in tourism— she’s currently serving diligently at the airport without a lab coat! A similar situation molested my Kiswahili acquaintance when his dad couldn’t bank his support on a course he saw no future in. Even then, the gentleman braved his way through; at the moment, he edits Kiswahili content at a popular publishing firm.

Were it not out of fear to sound insulting, one would recommend the Three Idiots to every parent out there to scuttle and scatter their kids' passions and desires. All in all, what counts in the end is skill, quality of network, experience, and demeanor!

Lecturers too have it rough

One wonders why lecturers do take to the streets regularly. Teaching and lectureship aren’t all about drive; they are a job like any other hence financial stability is key. A lecturer once emphasized that he would perish were he to depend solely on the job. Another couldn’t hold back the narrative connecting a life of misery and poverty with that of lectureship. That is, the compensation accrued to them often falls short of the value of effort exerted. Accordingly, a lecturer has to double up other jobs and hustles with classes. But then, at what time do they attend to these other pressing businesses of national importance? A plausible guess could be over class time! But of course, no one serves two masters at a go. Consequently, instructors do show up for lecture once or twice in 12weeks! The rest is left to the reader to make an ending.

Shirking

It is debatable that knowing the right thing leads to it being done. In a recent deliberation with a recruiter, it was evident that some graduates constitute a terrible mess. Whereas a badly-drafted curriculum vitae (CV) is excusable, nothing pisses one more than job applicants' disregard for straightforward instructions. Why on Earth, for instance, would a potential employee submit an email without both the subject and body? Worrisome is that it is common knowledge that one can have their resumes and cover letters reviewed at no expense on some online platforms.

Given the dread of effort, individuals do opt for the road most travelled— shortcuts and quick means of land lucrative positions in the labor market. This too has a cost. For example, how does one cushion themselves against imposters and fraudsters? One's attention is drawn to criminal case involving a prison warden who had solicited KSH800000 from an unsuspecting parent to secure their three sons in top government position. It seems the returns were high enough that an individual would willingly risk being defrauded.

Everyone thought that the big brother was watching

A concern lately has been that it is trust issues that force students to write exams. To some learners, passing or failing is a matter of life and death to which the struggle is informed by the desire to come out of the exam hall alive. As a result, students are beating traditional invigilation mechanisms— sneaking lecture modules into examination halls and plain cheating. Perhaps, it is time studying and exams were taken seriously! Maybe, sound CCTV camera architecture is all that is needed to put cheats where they belong!

Is it good will or black tax?

One good turn deserves another. This does not, however, form the basis for individuals to be burdened by their families. After all, students too have lives if their own to lead. Uncalled-for pressures to take care of extended families deprives fresh graduates and job entrants the opportunity to focus time and attention on career growth. An implication of it is that job seekers, weighed down by such pressures, turn down internships, attachments, and voluntary ventures in fear that they are devoid of monetary compensation. Even then, it is ingenuous gifting graduates with wheelbarrows, sickles, slashes, and machetes as though they were butchers roaming around abattoirs.

As I wrap up, I recently saw a discussion on Facebook with a conclusion that degrees have become useless hence graduates are ditching them. I tend to disagree with this argument and make as assumption that, it is the quality of those degrees that is depreciating –courtesy of the above factors to add onto much more.

?Dorine Kanaiza is a Media and Communications Specialist, Creative Writer, Editor, and passionate about youth empowerment.