Graduates display “poor performance” at work - study

Almost half of new graduates employed are fired due to unacceptable behaviour and poor performance, a new survey has found.

This year the Samoa Quality Authority (S.Q.A.), mandated by its Act, conducted the Survey of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (T.V.E.T.) Graduates’ Employers – a follow up to their tracer study of graduates conducted last year.

A draft copy of the survey results, given to the Samoa Observer, reveal that for the former employees who were terminated due to obvious reasons, they mostly left work four-plus years after recruitment rested at 50 percent.

“Termination of employment was mainly due to unacceptable behavior and poor performance,” the Survey reads.

“The qualifications of most graduates in this category were Certificate in Computer and Information Management, Certificate in Office Administration, Certificate in Office Administration and Document Production, Diploma in Media and

Journalism, Intermediate Certificate in Automotive Engineering.”

In answering the survey questions S.Q.A. asked that the respondents’ assessment include the rating the level of importance of each skill required for the graduates’ occupations.

“For each occupation, the respondents were asked to indicate the skills required, and to rate the level of importance of individual skills on a four point scale -1 = ‘not important’ to 4 = ‘very important’,” the Survey reads.

“All of the skills indicated for each occupation were rated on the scale of ‘important’ to ‘very important’.

“This suggests that all of the skills indicated by respondents…were necessary for the graduates in the workplace.”

The S.Q.A. says the respondents were also asked to rate the level of graduate-performance for each of the required skills on a five-point scale: 1 = ‘very poor’ to 5 = ‘excellent’.

“This was aimed at determining the skills that the graduates demonstrated below average and/or very poor in the workplace upon recruitment up to the point of the Survey.

“52 per cent of total graduates covered, 202 out of 391, were identified by the respondents to have all of the skills required and applied in the workplace rated on the scales of ‘above average’ to ‘excellent’.

“In contrast, 48 percent of total graduates covered, 189 out of 391, were identified with skills and knowledge rated on the scale of ‘average’ to ‘very poor’.

“Almost all of these graduates have improved overtime on these ‘average’ to ‘very poor’ skills in the workplace through training, coaching and supervision.”

The Survey further reveals that the other proportion which have not improved were indicated by respondents to have shown no interest, and-or lacked motivation to enhance their ‘average’ to ‘very poor’ performances in the workplace.

“A significant distinction was found in terms of respondents’ feedback in this survey compared to graduates’ responses in the 2013 tracer study - the indication of required ‘attributes’,” the survey reads.

“The respondents indicated for some of the occupations, the need for ‘good work commitment’ in terms of discipline and/or performance, attendance, and punctually.

“This was a result of the identification of ‘poor work commitment’ as a common issue for several graduates of most of the P.S.E.T. providers.”

According to the survey, generic skills were the largest set of skills that were rated average to very poor for most of the graduates.

“Commonly indicated for most of the graduates by occupations were the generic skills of communication, computing, customer service, management, and office administration were commonly indicated across many occupations."

“The importance of generic skills was noted in the identification of ‘workplace skills’ as one of the main employability aspects often considered by employers when recruiting new workers."

“Most of the workplace skills selected by respondents were also indicated in the skills rated average to very poor in the assessment of graduates’ performances.”

In light of this information, the S.Q.A. asked for suggestions from employers on how the graduates could improve. “The common suggestions by respondents for P.S.E.T. providers’ to enhance the capacity of their graduates were to include and/or improve training of skills lacking by graduates indicated for each occupations and/or P.S.E.T. providers."

“To gather information on and include in training the learning of ‘employer requirements’ (as well as ‘good work commitment) so that students are aware of what is expected."

“To provide relevant and sufficient opportunities for work experience and/or practical learning during training."

“To update learning materials as well as tools and equipment used during training to match those used in workplaces and to encourage students to undertake study programs suitable to their capacities and to take up occupations that match their qualifications/skills.”

The S.Q.A. reports that suggestions made by graduates in the 2013 tracer study included better/more qualified teachers, the availability of sufficient and adequate resources for learning and more practical exercises were to be conducted.

“(Also) fees to be well structured and for appropriate student-support services to be in place,” the survey reads. “Suggestions made by employers in this survey further support the suggestions made by the graduates in the 2013 study.”

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