Folk development colleges in Tanzania and promotion of self-employment to rural youth

This study investigated the role of Folk Development Colleges in Tanzania in promoting self-employment to rural youth in Tanzania. Kisarawe and Kibaha Folk Development Colleges were taken as case studies. Eighty-two (82) respondents were selected through random and purposive sampling. The data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, observation and documentary reviews. The youth who participated in this study were graduates and learners from the selected FDCs in which the number of male youth exceeded that of female youth. The study found that rural youth from FDCs had positive attitudes towards self-employment, but lacked condusive environment, which was lack capital, reliable markets and support from the society, experience, and adequate technology. It also revealed that FDCs curriculum does not meet the needs of the labour market due to the failure of the course and content packages to match with the learners’ needs and environment. Also, inadequate current teaching and learning materials and low numbers of tutors and lack of in-service training for tutors contributed to the failure of youth to create self-employment. The government through the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children, NGOs and the community at large should prioritise condusive self- employment environment both for rural and urban FDCs’ youth so that they can be self-employed.