FEMALE PARTICIPATION {N TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS IN NORTHERN GHANA: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The research focuses on female participation in technical and vocational education a training with particular emphasis on skill training opportunities for females in Northc Ghana. In Ghana, labour markets have become so competitive that females need to be assist to enter such markets. Expanding skill-training opportunities for females in traini institutions could meet this demand. It is for this reason that this thesis sought to identJ gender disparities in technical and vocational education and training institutions favomi males against females who have low participation. Thus, the central questions this thesis tri to answer were: What is the state of female enrolment in technical and vocational institutio in Northern Ghana? What factors influence the decision of parents to send their girls technical and vocational schools? And what challenges confront technical and voeatioi institutions in enrolling females? Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data ti were analyzed by the use of SPSS and qualitatively as well within the framework of hum capital theory. By examining and finding answers to these questions raised above, it " revealed that even though females have shown interest in technical and vocational educati and training, their enrolment rates were low as compared to their male counterpa particularly in male-dominated programmes. In short, gender balance was lacking in technic and vocational education and training and most institutions were internally inefficient, w endogenous factors forcing female trainees out of the training programmes. It was al evidenced that immediate employment opportunities were the main driving force intluenci parents and guardians to send their females' wan:fs to technical and vocational education a training institutions. The study concludes that investigation on the prospects and challenges of female participati in technical and vocational education and training institutions in Northern Ghana could he in providing information for planning process. Clearly, the situation is quite discouraging wi most institutions being male-dominated. In the light of this, it recommends that 1 institutions involved need to consider broadening their range of courses. For, there i marketable courses available that would increase the participation of girls in technical a vocational education programmes for the individual and national development