How TVET teachers foster employability skills: insights from developing countries

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the diversity of views in the literature about what employability skills are, there appears to be general agreement that employability skills are important. However, there are concerns about whether TVET graduates in developing countries are developing these skills and the onus falls upon TVET teachers to ensure they do so. In this qualitative study, 35 TVET teachers from 19 developing countries were interviewed to learn how TVET teachers foster the employability skills of learners. Data collected were transcribed, coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings show that the well-published notion that TVET teachers in many developing countries do not make efforts to impart employability skills to their students could be brought into question. Results of this study show that TVET teachers use various techniques to foster employability skills in their TVET learners. Continuous professional development of TVET teachers to ensure quality graduate outcomes is recommended.