The introduction of free primary education in Kenya in 2003 prompted a large influx of pupils previously not enrolled in school. As these pupils complete their primary schooling in the coming years, Kenya will face unprecedented numbers of primary school graduates vying for limited seats in academic secondary schools.  Vocational education, in particular the dynamic and growing private vocational training sector, is one promising avenue for these youths, as well as for addressing the problem of underemployment among youth who fell out of the academic schooling system before 2003.

In Kenya, IPA is working to measure the impact of vocational training on labor market and other life outcomes, leveraging the Kenyan Life Panel Survey to examine the differential gains for individuals with different childhood and baseline characteristics, including academic and cognitive performance, health, and family income. Additionally, the study utilizes training take-up among winners and non-winners to estimate demand for vocational education and price, information and other elasticities. The unique voucher delivery system also allows for estimation of the relative effectiveness of public and private vocational training in Kenya and the determinants of institute-level returns to training.

The study draws its sample from the Kenyan Life Panel Survey sample. Individuals are invited to apply for a vocational training tuition voucher. Among those who apply, one third are assigned to the control group, one third receive restricted (public sector only) vouchers and one third receive unrestricted vouchers.