Abstract:
The study sought to examine the role the general public play in the development of technical and vocational education in Primary schools. These subjects were: Home science, Art and Craft and Agriculture as offered in Primary schools in the urban and rural setting of Eldoret Municipality and the surrounding areas in Kenya A random sample of eight (8) schools was selected for the study. The respondents included eighty (80) standard eight (STD VIII) pupils, thirty-one (31) teachers and ten (10) parents of the pupils studying these subjects. From the study, a large proportion of the respondents, most of whom were made up of teacher-respondents, affirmed that the local communities were supposed to contribute to the provision of equipment and facilities in the development of technical and vocational education in Primary schools while some of them indicated that the communities were supposed to establish and manage the schools. As such, parents and the general public should be sensitized on the importance of technical and vocational component in the Primary school curriculum so that they can give it the support it deserves be it materially or morally in the task of national development. In addition, the government makes the technical and vocational subjects more attractive by providing adequate facilities and resources to Primary schools. The informal sector of the economy should be strongly supported so as to attract Primary school-leavers who achieve relevant practical skills. The study is useful to all education stakeholders as it highlights the need to incorporate socio-economic contextual factors in improving performance in technical and vocational subjects in individual schools
