Factors influencing female students enrollment in artisan courses in technical training institutions in Kenya: a case of Bungoma county

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 artisan courses in technical institutions in Bungoma County. The study was guided by the following objectives; the influence of job market on female student course enrolment in artisan courses, the extent to which female student family background influence their enrolment in artisan courses, to ascertain how peer pressure influence female students enrolment in artisan courses and lastly to determine how intensity of training influence enrolment of female students in technical training institutions in Bungoma County. The researcher employed a descriptive survey design. The target population for the study was147 students in first year taking artisan courses in three technical training institutions in Bungoma County, three registrars and the technical education officer making a total of 150respondents.The sample sizewas147first year female students taking artisan oriented courses in the three technical training institutes selected using census study design and three registrars and the technical education officer making a total of 150 respondents. The research used Students’ Questionnaire (SQ), Registrars Questionnaire (RQ) and technical education officers Questionnaire (TEOQ) as data collection instruments. Validity and reliability of the research instruments were tested prior to actual collection of data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using APA tables formats. It was deduced that majority of the respondents joined technical institutions for self employment and not formal employment. The findings showed that majority of the respondents joined technical institutions based on Parental Influence and on Personal Attitudes. Majority of the respondents had poor attitude towards science courses. The respondents had positive attitude towards art based courses. In regard to intensity of training, the findings showed that majority of the respondents could neither comfortably carry out practical lessons nor do manipulation of heavy equipments. Majority of the respondents were not comfortable with intensive Curriculum content .The study recommends that Female students should join technical institutions for self employment and formal employment based on career guidance in schools.