THE EFFICACY OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS CURRICULA AND INSTRUCTION ON ACQUISITION OF SOFT SKILLS FOR STUDENTS IN KENYAN UNIVERSITIES: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Mary Nguvi Muindi, Ruth Thinguri

Abstract


Soft skills are some of the 21st century's most important life skills that should equip university students. Communication skills is one of the courses offered in Kenyan Universities to enhance the soft skills competencies of all undergraduates in their first-year semester. However, employers raised a concern that the newly hired graduates lack essential employability skills to perform office tasks effectively. Communication skills instruction and curricula do not contribute to the required soft skills competencies. The purpose of this study is to conduct a critical analysis of the efficacy of communication skills curricula and instruction on the acquisition of soft skills competencies required in the 21st-century workforce. The study had two objectives: to carry out a critical analysis of listening skills curricula and instruction on the acquisition of soft skills competencies and to examine critically speaking skills curricula and teaching on the acquisition of soft skills competencies. Speber and Wilson (1995) relevance theory of communication anchored the study. The study employed a qualitative approach to research methodology and content analysis to analyse the data. The findings revealed that communication skills instructors taught listening and speaking skills theoretically. There is a need for communication skills curricula to be aligned with industry-specific skills and communication skills instructors to utilise differentiated instruction, engaging pedagogies, and integrate information technology in their classrooms. The learner-centered approach will enhance the acquisition of soft skills competencies among the graduates. The research recommends that universities in Kenya review the communication skills course and align it with the Competency-Based Curriculum.

 

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communication skills curricula, soft skills competencies, critical analysis and efficacy

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v9i1.4109

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