Abstract

CHALLENGES FOR TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY AT POLYTECHNICS IN ZIMBABWE

JANE MBETU-NZVENGA, MUGOVE KUDENGA

Volume: 6 Issue: 2 2016

Abstract:

The study sought to explain the progress that has been achieved in areas of gender equality in Technical and Vocational Education in Zimbabwe. International and National consensus on Technical and Vocational Education priorities accords an important place in achieving gender equality in Educational spheres. In order to consider progress made towards gender equality, assessment was done on the nature of progress made towards the goals and the factors which are hindering the progress. Gender equality in Technical and Vocational Education, needs to be understood as the right to education as well as rights within education. An education system with equal numbers of men and women participating may progress evenly through to the highest level of education that can be attained. These researchers acknowledge the efforts made so far by the Government of Zimbabwe and the College Administrators in trying to improve gender equality across the courses offered at Polytechnics for the past years. The researchers explored the progress that has been made so far in Departments like Commerce and Information Technology but there are still challenges in the Engineering, Cosmetology and Clothing Department. The research design used was the case study and the instruments used were the interviews, observations and document analysis. The researchers observed that Polytechnics have been capacitated to enroll equal numbers of men and women but there seemed to be challenges in other Technical and Vocational areas. For gender equality to be meaningful, mechanisms for ensuring equal treatment need to be put in place. These mechanisms rest on the commitment to non- discrimination, ensuring the erasure of social norms that construct men and women as unequal in terms of value and ensuring that all social actors are committed to eliminate stereotypes and attitudes that reinforce and perpetuate inequalities in distribution of resources.

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