Factors influencing enrollment of female students in science oriented courses in technical training institutions in Bungoma County: Kenya

Abstract

The composition of female studies has been growing all over the world. The trend seems to indicate that female students prefer some courses over others. Female students who enroll in postgraduate courses do so for a number of reasons which range from the desire for high income or better employment, empowerment for decision reasons and other social cultural factors. This trend is also typical in Technical training institutions. The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that influence female students enrolment in science oriented courses in technical institutions in Bungoma County. The study was guided by the following objectives; the influence of outcomes expectations on female student course enrollment in science oriented courses, the extent to which female student attitudes influence their enrollment in science oriented courses, to ascertain how socio-economic factors influence enrollment of female students in science oriented courses and lastly the extent to which instructional materials available influence enrollment of female students in science oriented courses in technical training institutions in Bungoma County. The researcher employed descriptive survey design while undertaking the study. The target population for the study was 160 students in first year taking science oriented courses in three technical training institutions in Bungoma County, three registrars and the technical education officer making a total of 164respondents. The sample size was 113first year’s female students taking sciences oriented courses in the three technical training institutes selected using krejcie and morgan (1970) table of determining sample size for research activities and three registrars and the technical education officer making a total of 117 respondents. The research used Students’ Questionnaire (SQ), Deans Questionnaire (DQ) and technical education officers Questionnaire as data collection instruments. Validity and reliability of the research instruments was tested prior to actual collection of data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using APA tables formats. The findings show that majority of respondents revealed that they were influenced by future salaries expectations. The bulk of students were strongly influenced by identity expectations in future while choosing to enroll in science-oriented course in TTI and lastly the respondents also cited that employment chances in future influenced their enrollment in science-oriented courses. The findings also shows that majority of the respondents were not influenced by career counselors at KCSE level to enroll in science oriented courses. It can be summarized that majority of respondents cited that they were not influenced by gender stereotype while enrolling into science oriented courses. Majority of respondents indicated that global technological advancements had no influence to their enrollment in science-oriented courses. It can be deduced that the bulk of respondents were influenced by other family members to enroll in science based courses. The findings also shows that majority of respondents indicated that they were not influenced by SET government bursary to enroll into science oriented courses and lastly it can be deduced that the bulk of respondents revealed that they enrolled into science-oriented courses due to available science, engineering and technology workshops. It can also be deduced that the bulk of respondents indicated that they were greatly influenced by past performance of the science departments to enroll into science-oriented courses. The findings also shows that majority of the respondents were not influenced by the registrars of students into xii enrolling in science oriented courses in TTI in Bungoma County. The study recommends that female students should be encouraged to enroll into science oriented courses as their male counter parts. The study also recommends that female students should be assisted to develop positive attitudes towards science oriented courses from early stages of learning. The study also recommends that college administration and other education stakeholders should provide SET bursary information to female students to enable in enroll in science oriented courses.