Students need guidance in choosing their careers

The University of Nairobi in partnership with Tv47 hosted a virtual career fair on Friday, May 28, 2021. The aim of the career fair was to open the channels of communication with regards to career guidance, mentorship and talent identification. In addition to career fairs, students can also benefit from early mentorship.

“It is important for young people to be guided and mentored so as to show them the way to go. At the University of Nairobi, we are able to provide these services in the Academic Divisions and Career Services Department.” noted Mariam Manya, Registrar, University of Nairobi. Ms. Manya emphasized the importance of career fairs in educating young people on the emerging areas in the job market. 

“Once students register with us, we do not hesitate to expose them to the dynamics and reality of the job markets and the world at large. We give them a window of opportunity through which they can review and change their courses.” Jacktone Oketch, Dean of students, Jordan College of Technology echoing Ms. Manya’s sentiments on the importance of career guidance.

Dr. Fred Otieno, Chairman of Academic Programmes, University of Nairobi, encouraged students to converse with their parents and teachers in order to figure out their career prospects. ‘‘The fourth Industrial Revolution is here and many things are coming into place; the Blue Economy, Artificial Intelligence just to mention a few. These are courses that are now here and you need someone to tell you about them.’

Caroline Kithama, Head of office, Education Hungary, shared Dr. Otieno’s views on the role of guidance belonging to everyone.“It is a collective responsibility for everyone; the teacher should guide, the parent should guide and the students should reach out as well in order to get this information.”

“There is a gap because career guidance has to be a deliberate effort. It has to be well coordinated. We have developed a booklet and they are available to students. We are training teachers. We also want to reach the parents because at the end of the day, we are seeing students going to careers which the parents would have loved. The Ministry of Education is working on identifying talents and training students to pursue careers based on what they are good at and not what they are pushed to be,” says Dr. Mercy Wahome’s CEO, Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service on the role the government was playing to ensure students are able to pursue what they loved.

Ekrah Ndung’u from the Kenya National Association of Private Colleges offered a solution that could help students in their career path discovery. “When you are confused you take a psychometric test to help you choose the career you want. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs) are available and affordable and in line with your natural gifts.”

Joseph Ndegwa, the Head of Lending at the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) was of the opinion that one can still find their way to their rightful career even when they are doing a job they are not passionate about. ‘‘There is no wrong or right career. You can start at the wrong place and end up at the right pathway. ’’