The contribution of technical and vocational education and training to women’s economic empowerment in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) contributes to women’s economic empowerment and improved quality of life.  The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of technical and vocational education and training to women’s economic  empowerment in Kampala, Uganda. ThestudywasconductedbetweenSeptember2019toFebruary2020. Thestudy usedadescriptive cross- sectionalsurveydesignand369 randomly sampled TVET graduates were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Additional data  were collected through in-depth interviews and secondary sources. Data was analysed through frequency and percentage evaluation.  The study revealed that TVET has contributed to the economic empowerment of female graduates through reduction of unemployment  and poverty levels amongst the women, further educational attainment and increased income, and in the power and agency dimension  through property acquisition and control, empowering the women to act as change agents in society. The recommendation is to expand  opportunities to access TVET for women to transform the societal barriers facing women in Uganda.