FACTORS AFFECTING FEMALE LEARNERS’ ENROLMENT IN TECHNICAL COURSES AT KARUMO TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE, MERU COUNTY – KENYA

Abstract

Technical courses offer hands on experience to foster a wide array of self-employability skills among the beneficiaries. However, for a long time the enrolment to technical courses is characterised by low female student enrolment than that of their male counterparts. This study sought to investigate the factors affecting female learners’ enrolment in technical courses. The study adopted a mixed study research design and a sample size of 107. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used as data collection instruments. The data was managed and analysed using SPSS. The study found that 77% of the respondents agreed that financial factors affected female enrolment in technical courses. Other factors that affected the enrolment of female students in technical courses included 77% cultural factors, 85% role models and 79% Sociological factors. Regression analysis found out that parent financial background, ability to finance education, availability of grants and sponsorships, and learners’ interest in technical courses positively affected female learners’ enrolment β =0.099, P= 0.047; ability to finance education β = 0.205, P = 0.026; availability of grants and sponsorships β = 0.297, P = 0.266 and learners’ interest in technical courses β = 0.004, P=0.988. However, other factors negatively affect female learners’ enrolment in technical courses; cultural stereotypes on women in technical courses β = -0.205, P = 0.034; peer pressure β = -0.045, P = 0.450; and social expectations on women β = -0.090, P= 0.005; female genital mutilation was β = -0.012, P= 0.938, early marriages β = -0.086, P = 0.407 and inequalities in access to technical education β = -0.500, P= 0.045. The government should increase funding for women's education in technical courses and efforts to fight against retrogressive cultural practices such as FGM.