Female students face barriers in TVETs, report reveals
By Evelyn Makena, October 9, 2019
Female students enrolled in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions face numerous challenges, a new study has shown.
Gender analysis in Kenya’s TVET sector carried out by Kenya Education for Employment Program, has shown that despite an increase in female student enrolment for technical and vocational courses, there was unequal participation for women and girls.
The report, based on data collected from the 11 national polytechnics, cites social, cultural and religious beliefs as key barriers to female enrolment in TVETs.
Such believes, the report says, hinder, retention, completion and access to employment opportunities.
“ The perception is that courses like dressmaking and hospitality are for women and the technical courses for men.
These views inform the courses female students settle on and those who defy those norms are ridiculed,” said Ruth Oloo of Colleges and Institutes Canada.
But launching the report yesterday, Principal Secretary, Vocational and Technical Training Kevit Desai, said the government was committed to investing in reforms geared towards transforming the technical training institutions.