About Us
Coursebook is a career guidance services office in Kenya whose focus is to provide accessible guidance on careers, study options and colleges open to all children. We are undisputed king in the provision of concise career information to thousands of Kenyan children and students as well as their parents and other carers. We focus on grassroots career awareness, information, and advice on a wide range of study options and colleges available to the Kenyan children. Our overall goal is to raise aspirations and help underserved learners discover diverse training opportunities open to all thereby promoting enrollment into various training institutions based on individual career aspirations and academic ability among other key considerations.
Our model has been developed in response to the outrageous number of students who are dissatisfied by the careers they pursued or are pursuing in our institutions of higher learning. The long term impact of this is widespread career dissatisfaction and poor performance at the workplace among other vices. The quality of education someone receives determines the impact and contributions of that person in terms of wealth creation, income generation, poverty reduction as well as social responsibility in his or her immediate environment.
Successful career planning can be greatly achieved if young people are focused on their career growth as early as possible. Here at Coursebook, we provide young people with the information and advice they need to make informed career choices. That way, we believe, we can reduce the high rate of unemployment, poverty and career dissatisfaction among the Kenyan youth.
Premise
Choosing the course to study when joining college or university is a critical task that becomes a major turning point in a student’s life which not only is the beginning to workplace readiness, but also establishes the student in a career path that opens up as well as closes life opportunities.
Vision
We envision a world where underserved youth and their families have access to the career information and guidance they need to make informed career, course and college choices, a sure pathway to prosperity.
Mission
To provide underserved youth and their families with timely access to relevant, reliable and up-to date career related information and support services they need to make informed decisions regarding their course choices and postsecondary education for upward economic mobility.
Motto
Courses by choice, Not chance!
Belief
We believe in supporting students make informed course choices. The process of choosing postsecondary course is a stressful one and uphill battle in which over 70% of postsecondary applicants never win. To us that’s an epic fail. That’s why we work closely with families and educators to help support student postsecondary course planning and choice. We want to see more students joining postsecondary institutions and walking up to the podium on graduation day, proud of what they’ve studied, and ready to build great lives for themselves. We aim to help them get there through empowering them make informed course choices, because, course choice matters most.
Core Values
Clarity | Access | Passion | Impact | Integrity
Some statistics we are trying to change
Problem Statement
A large number of students for lack of information and guidance usually face countless challenges while applying for courses to study after secondary school. This is because, students are not well equipped with basic skills in course selection early enough. In fact, majority of students are not able to make informed course choices even after completing secondary education due to lack of information and proper guidance while still at their formative years. Because of this career choice inability, many students keep hoping from one course to another trying to find their career paths. Career satisfaction begins at the Course Selection Stage and if done properly, students are likely to lead a productive and fulfilling career life after their postsecondary education. Coursebook provides students with clear information and course guidance to help them plan for and choose the right courses in pursuit of their postsecondary education, a key education level that empowers students with employability and entrepreneurial skills.
Career guidance in secondary schools in Kenya is not offered sufficiently and thus, making informed career choices is not an easy task especially for many secondary school students. A majority of school going children in Kenya lack access to appropriate career information and guidance. As a result, these students transition to higher education unprepared for their future careers. The careers they pursue are in most cases not aligned to their interests rather than a game of chance. Evidently, majority of the students transitioning to higher learning institutions are pursuing careers they do not like.
When young people pursue careers that are not aligned to their interests and abilities, their career dissatisfaction journey in life begins. This is well manifested in the marketplace today as over 70% of working Kenyans (professionals) are dissatisfied by the nature and tasks of their careers. To promote informed career choices for high school students in Kenya, there is need to offer adequate career guidance and counselling in kenya to enable all students to make informed career choices. We are working passionately to reduce the above numbers so that more school going children can make informed career and education choices. Get easy to use career guidance materials to inspire all children and help them make informed career choices. Get them on career resources page
Our Solution
Making informed career choice is not easy. It is even harder for teenagers who lack access to timely career information and advice. For majority of young people especially those from poor families, career choice is usually a game of chance with possible serious consequences. Coursebook is working innovatively to give young Kenyans the power to choose careers they believe in.
Through online and offline community interactions, our model aims at disseminating a robust career advice and information on a wide range of courses and careers to help young people plan well for their futures. Away from the traditional careers, Coursebook model is designed to help young people discover new career possibilities available to them and ultimately plan well for their futures. In addition, we give young people personalized guidance based on individual needs. Need course advice or information to help you decide which course to pursue! begin your exploration by visiting any of these options; degree options, diploma options, certificate options or artisan options. Or maybe you need career information to help you make a career choice, open this page careers guide, Or you just want easy to use career guidance materials for use at home, library or school, get them on this career resources page
Our Story
Our team has been offering one on one career guidance support at individual level to prepare students for their future and help those joining colleges & universities navigate the system successfully. Over the years, the team has assisted a number of students join colleges and universities successfully and have been able to secure career pathways of their choice. The most encouraging part is the fact that, all the students the team has assisted either individually or collectively have testified that they have enjoyed or are enjoying the study options they were allocated.
Among the beneficiaries of our service, some have successfully travelled overseas for their further studies in line with their chosen fields. Others who have graduated are in stable careers and enjoying their career life. This gave us the morale and the encouragement to create impact to more lives by helping young people pursue careers they will enjoy and disrupt the current cycle where a majority of students in colleges are pursuing careers they do not like. Our products and services are designed to disseminate vital career information and advice where the need is greatest.
The Team
Coursebook is composed of a team of information scientists, researchers, developers and career education enthusiasts who are truly passionate about careers education and its social impact to the society. Together with like-minded individuals and organizations, we aim to empower the lives of many young people, one student at a time, free of charge.
Partner with Us
No single individual or organization can change lives at scale. Changing lives at scale requires collaboration and partnerships. We are therefore looking for like-minded individuals and organizations that believe in our cause and would like to be part of it. You can help us prepare underserved students and families for careers and education choices by donating even a small amount if you find our services useful, or if our support has been helpful to you, learn more. For business partnerships, kindly contact us through the form below.