A case for diploma courses; Is the Bachelor's degree losing its value?

Diploma in Catering and Accommodation graduands celebrate during Nyeri National Polytechnic's 3rd graduation ceremony, on March 21, 2022. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Not long ago, earning a bachelor's degree was thought to be the surest way to flourish in the labour market. It was as prestigious as it was a status symbol. A mark of privilege. Today, however, with the changing dynamics in the labour market, the once revered bachelor's degree seems to be losing its lustre. Its appeal. And there's evidence all around us. What with the spiking numbers of degree holders without jobs, publicly discrediting their credentials, terming them as good as the dodo? Some moons ago, I met an acquittance who we attended the same university with working as a tout in one of the city's routes. His disposition told a story of resignation.

For the past decade or so, there has been a simmering debate on whether a bachelor's degree still hold sway in the labour market. On who between a diploma holder and a university graduate is well prepped for the technical aspects of a given discipline. On the perception of why companies in various industries have lately been gravitating towards diploma holders at the expense of degree holders.