| Abstract: | The Purpose of this study was to investigate major factors affecting female TEC and
TVET trainees’ field of study or department selection. To achieve this objective, 295
female students from 3 TECs and 127 female students from 3 TVETs, totally 422 female
trainees, were randomly selected and used as source of information. Besides, department
heads and gender focal persons of the sample colleges were included as source of
supplementary information. All the necessary information were collected using pilot
tested questionnaire and interview. The result of the study indicates that female trainees
are influenced by two major factors: internal and external based on their origins. Thus, it
was found that the internal factors are factors that emanate from the 'self' such as the
feelings of inability, academic anxiety, low self confidence, and fear of practice as well as
extra work. On the other hand, peer pressure, inability to get orientation, absence of role
models, failure of teachers to encourage females, traditional beliefs and the like are
external factors. Generally, the study concludes that the combination of the two factors
affects female trainees in the selection of their field of study. |
