On the Friday of 17th March 2023, one follower of this forum alerted yours truly ( through a side-chart) on a write-up that appeared in one of the daily newspapers, on career issues. “What do we do with these degrees?” Wondered four unemployed Kenyan graduates, as reflected on the write-up title. “Most times, it is only after graduation that students become aware of the mismatch of their academic capabilities and the market needs,” the write-up author intimitated.
As I continued thinking through the write-up, in the course of the week, I interacted with a number of educational institutional managers, spread within Kiambu and Muranga counties. Most of them coincidentally indicated interests in engagements regarding career guidance for their students.
Apparently, this continues confirming that career guidance seems to be of great concern to numerous institutional managers, charged with empowerment of our future leaders. That was not the case as our empowerment mission took shape some years ago. But, how well do institutional managers handle this aspect of empowerment of these future leaders?
What many may not know is that CAREER ALIGNMENT is supposed to be a critical consideration of the empowerment strategy in the school system, particularly in this dynamic and disruptive 21st Century. Unfortunately, most educationists are only pre-occupied with pumping knowledge, into the heads of their learners, in line with the requirements of the school curriculum. Forget about students’ intellectual capacity, which is neither here nor there during this era of 100 percent transition of students.
Alongside, what the learners do or where they take that knowledge after leaving school is seemingly left to fate. Most of often, the learners are guided by extrinsic factors, particularly regarding likely job opportunities and financial rewards, as influenced by the mentalities of the 20th Century. Imagine the school system is still stuck in the 20th Century mentally, but physically in the 21st Century!!
In that regard, great lessons have come our way, over the years. In November 2015, yours truly visited a leading and very well known national school. The principal then indicated that their focus is mainly on performance of students, upon mention of career alignment. “Issue of careers is best dealt with by parents and universities,” insisted this principal. Our concerns regarding the perspectives of this principal led to development of page 4 of the KICD approved Career Dynamics in the 21st Century.
The same illustrates the 5 critical stages of making choices, during the empowerment process of every Kenyan student. Sadly, more than 90% of students make the wrong choices due to being influenced by extrinsic factors. In the process, that leads to challenged focus/ strategic direction.
While in school, learning becomes punishment, thus the high levels of indiscipline that lead to drug addiction and many other negativities. After school, imagine the unemployment and numerous negativities associated with continued lack of strategic direction!!
More still, in September 2016, yours truly was the guest speaker during the career day, in the school of business of one of the foremost public universities in this country. He found that only about 20% of 3rd and 4th year students were properly aligned with regard to their career orientations ( check page 148 of Living Beyond Survival: No More Tiptoeing in Life). The balance of 80% were eagerly waiting for the jobs they were likely to secure after graduation, to determine their careers. Imagine such perspectives in a leading public university!!!
After another two or so seminars in universities, yours truly decided to direct our empowerment strategy to Kenyan secondary schools. At that stage, students are mariable and can easily be aligned with the paradigms of the 21st Century. The good news is that the focus of the Competency Based Curriculum is aligned in the same way.
Likewise, our empowerment strategy in Kenyan Secondary schools is aimed at aligning the 8-4-4 students and their teachers with the paradigms of the 21st Century. No wonder, continued feedback indicates that some teachers re-enter school to re-align their knowledge after our seminars.
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Luckily, students are the largest beneficiaries of our strategy, since they manage to align themselves, at an early stage. Most importantly, one of the six objectives that guides our empowerment seminars, is aligning ongoing studies with likely eventual careers – our empowerment strategy is holistic and addresses numerous strategies applicable to students while in school and beyond.
Apparently, Institutional Managers who have personally witnessed our seminars can attest to the realities of our empowerment approach. As such, how does your institution align the future leaders under your care? Our Strategy leads to improved attitudes, reading culture, performance and focus/strategic direction, amongst others. Under such circumstances, being properly aligned to the eventual careers, becomes a reality, doesn’t it?
FYI
Our empowerment strategy in schools is research based and well tested in the entire school system. Besides, charity begins at home as they say, doesn’t it? Our three children were the first case studies of this unique empowerment strategy. Depending on the edition, the experiences of each of them, are well articulated in either page 105 or 106 of CAREER DYNAMICS IN THE 21st CENTURY.
Meanwhile, the realities and effectiveness of our empowerment strategy explain why CAREER DYNAMICS IN THE 21st CENTURY was 1. Approved by KICD for circulation in Kenyan Secondary schools.
- Used by KICD for architecture of the Competency Based Curriculum – CBC, in 2016.
- Placed in the MOE headquarters Resource Center ( 10th Floor, Jogoo House) as reference material on transformation of the Kenyan education system, in 2021. Beneficiaries include Masters degrees and PhD scholars focusing on educational matters.
As such, CONGRATULATIONS to all those who continue walking with us in the excecution of this unique empowerment strategy. More are still WELCOME not only through our publications, but also unique empowerment seminars for not only students, but also their handlers too.
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach,
Speaker/Trainer Consultant on Strategy, Performance, Change Management and Leadership.
Seasoned Trainer of Trainers,
Competency Based Curriculum-CBC Architect,
Author of 1. KICD approved Career Dynamics in the 21st Century, 2. Living Beyond Survival:No More Tiptoeing in Life
- The 21st Century Student:Are You Creating The Future Today? Also, Retired 5 Year Monthly Strategy Columnist (2013 – 2018) for The SME Today Magazine Phone 254722516210
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