This study investigated the youth trainees’ perceived benefits of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in VETA institutions in Arusha City, Tanzania. The study was guided by three research questions: 1) What are the benefits of TVET to trainees? 2) What are the challenges facing TVET in the studied institutions? and 3) What should be the remedies? The study employed a cross-sectional survey research design. The sample had 130 trainees, 15 trainers, and three programme coordinators, making 148 total participants. Data collection integrated questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis guides. The researcher analysed the data statistically and thematically. Results also show that the youth-trainees perceive the TVET courses were very beneficial to them, especially through the acquisition of employability skills. However, TVET is facing challenges such as inadequate training facilities and materials, inadequate trainers, and insufficient infrastructure. The study concludes that the TVET opportunity was well received by the trainees, because it is beneficial to them. This study recommends four ways of addressing the challenges facing TVET in the studied institutions.
Keywords: Arusha, Benefits, Challenges, TVET, Tanzania, VETA, youth-trainees
