The Streaming of Students to TVET in Ethiopia: The Case of Two TVET Institutions in Addis Ababa

Abstract

The study was conducted with the objective of exploring the possible impact the procedure of streaming procedure that is used to stream grade 10 completes for a place in TVET on their motivation and performance. It employed qualitative case study method. Two TVET institutions, one governmental and another private were selected for this study. The participants of this study were officials at the education bureau of Addis Ababa, students and teachers at the two institutions and parents whose children are learning in those institutions. The study revealed that the criteria being employed to stream students to TVET expressed clear disfavor towards TVET by streaming students who were unable to succeed in EGSECE. This, unfortunately, aggravated the misconception that TVET is meant for the low achievers. On the other hand, students and parents as well were found to lack ample information about TVET prior to their students joining it and therefore form an incorrect and even sometimes a negative conception about it. As a result, the students submerged in deep dissatisfaction when they were streamed to this program. The repercussion of the streaming process was also found to be reflected in students’ lack of motivation and hence poor performance in their studies. Furthermore, the teaching learning process is not only suffering from ill motivation resulting in poor performance but also from students’ poor background knowledge associated with the streaming of students who practically failed the EGSECE, which certifies the completion of general education. Conclusions and implications for practice were derived based on the findings described above.