There has been a battle between business courses and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, also known as STEM courses. In the fight held at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) grounds, the government took the side of STEM and wants to phase out business courses in the next three years.

Today’s generation needs more entrepreneurial skills than they need technical skills. For instance, it is important to study engineering, but what happens when you open a plumbing business? What happens when you are out there after school, with your papers and you cannot secure a placement or run a simple business to fend for yourself?

Phasing out business courses might be good in promoting STEM courses. However, this classical narrative of assuming the way out for all students is joining the job market is retrogressive. If high unemployment rates and massive lay-offs is anything to go by, we are living in tough economic times that require smart decisions.

With the rapid technological evolution, it is important for all levels of education to adopt innovation and entrepreneurship. This will help them create meaningful ventures that will create more employment and profit. Unless using “innovation and technology” as a theme during the 2022 Jamhuri Day was a publicity stunt, and the hosting of The Nairobi Festival to showcase trade, talent and culture was just a taste of the delicious cake that is the taxpayers money, then phasing out business courses should be given new thought.

More students will benefit more from training that empowers them to find ways to make money with their skills. We have bright students from high school all the way to university. Why not, as we teach them, empower them with business skills to be able to depend on their wide range of skills to survive and thrive in these economic times?

Entrepreneurship, coupled with innovation, helps students and alumni to sniff opportunities from a distance. Additionally, a person with entrepreneurial blood flowing in their veins will easily be problem solvers. We are living in a world where climate change, food security and poverty are real problems. Why not empower the next generation of problem-solvers with practical entrepreneurial and innovation skills? Lastly, entrepreneurship and innovation help learners leverage their creativity to create solutions in their daily lives.

I agree with the move to promote STEM courses in TVETs but oppose phasing out business courses. Young people need entrepreneurial and innovation skills that can be used in tandem with STEM courses to create the next generation of leaders, innovators, business people, employers, etc.

—Brian Khavalaji is a Communication and Multimedia Student, Riara University