Education stakeholders are renewing calls for young men to embrace beauty courses at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, a field traditionally dominated by women but now offering significant opportunities for self-employment. The call was made during the 4th graduation ceremony of Glamourland Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Embu, where key speakers highlighted the critical need to shift cultural mindsets.
Manase Nguu, the chairman of the institution's board, emphasized that many young men remain jobless, yet beauty courses could equip them with marketable skills. He observed that despite the industry's growing demand, only a few boys were pursuing these opportunities, leaving them unexplored by half of the youth population.
Nguu urged parents to encourage their sons to take up these courses, noting that technical skills in beauty therapy, hairdressing, and related fields were providing lucrative job prospects, particularly in self-employment.
Elizabeth Njeri, the institute’s manager, announced that to further encourage boys to join the beauty courses, the institution was offering a 20 per cent discount on tuition fees for male students. This incentive aims to break the stigma surrounding such courses and attract more male enrollment.
Dr. Rahab Gathuci, the chief guest at the graduation, attributed the low participation of boys in beauty courses to deep-seated cultural biases that view such careers as feminine. She underscored the importance of dismantling these stereotypes, which are denying boys access to an industry that is rapidly expanding.
Dr. Robinson Kariuki, principal of St. Andrew Theology College, added that the government must ensure TVET students benefit from higher education loans to support their education, especially as TVETs are increasingly seen as crucial for solving the youth unemployment crisis. He echoed the sentiment that vocational training is key to achieving sustainable development, particularly by addressing unemployment among the youth and creating skilled workers in emerging sectors like beauty and wellness.
Across Kenya, TVETs are gaining recognition as essential in bridging the skills gap and preparing the youth for diverse career paths. Public and private institutions, in collaboration with the government, are working towards enhancing facilities and resources in TVETs to ensure graduates are equipped for the evolving job market. The call to involve more boys in beauty-related courses reflects a broader push to challenge gender norms and embrace all opportunities for economic empowerment.
205 students graduated with diploma and certificates at the institution.
By BRIAN MUSYOKA
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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