Government Flags Education Courses as Most Saturated, Warns of Rising Unemployed Graduates

Government of Kenya has flagged education courses as the most saturated area in Kenyan universities, warning that the continued mass enrolment of teacher trainees could worsen graduate unemployment in the coming years.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said universities are aggressively admitting students into education programmes despite limited job opportunities, turning the course into a major contributor to the country’s growing pool of unemployed graduates. He spoke on Thursday, December 18, at Kaimosi Friends University in Vihiga County.

According to the CS, the country requires only about 35,000 new teachers annually, yet universities collectively admit more than 100,000 education students every year. This imbalance, he said, leaves tens of thousands of trained teachers without jobs.

“Education has become the most congested course in our universities. Every year we train far more teachers than the country can employ, and this is a recipe for deepening graduate unemployment,” Ogamba said.

He revealed that close to 40 per cent of university students are currently enrolled in education-related programmes, a trend the government now considers unsustainable. Ogamba warned that unless admissions are controlled and curricula reviewed, Kenya risks producing generations of qualified but jobless teachers.

The CS accused some universities of prioritising income generation over labour market realities, noting that education courses are cheaper to run and attract high enrolment, making them financially attractive to institutions.

“We cannot continue offering programmes simply because they bring money to universities. Courses must be aligned to national development needs and employment opportunities,” he said.

Ogamba urged universities to urgently shift focus to under-supplied sectors such as agriculture, technology, health sciences and technical skills, where demand for skilled workers remains high.

He also advised students to reconsider enrolling in already saturated courses, warning that education graduates face stiff competition for limited teaching positions.

During the event, Ogamba presided over the swearing-in of new Kaimosi Friends University council members, with new chairperson Stanley Khainga pledging to strengthen academic relevance.

The government now says coordinated reforms—including tighter regulation of university admissions and stronger industry linkages – are necessary to prevent education courses from producing even more unemployed graduates.