Contribution of vocational education in poverty reduction in Mufindi district, Tanzania
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Date
2007
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study was conducted in Mufindi district, Iringa region, Tanzania to determine
the contribution of vocational education in poverty reduction among Vocational
Education and Training (VET) graduates. The study adopted a cross sectional design
by using a questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions from a sample
size of 120 respondents (60 women and 60 men) who have completed vocational
training in the past three to ten years. Data analysis was done using the Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) in which Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
was done to determine socio-economic status of the respondents’ households. Key
findings indicate that the majority (29.2%) of the respondents were engaged in
tailoring activities followed by motor vehicle mechanics (20%). The mean income of
VET graduates was Tshs. 102 775 per month with the minimum income of Tshs.18
000 and the maximum income of Tshs. 700 000 per month. Their mean income
implies that the majority of the respondents earn income above the minimum
government salary, which is Tshs. 80 000 per month. Results from the study also
reveal that female VET graduates in Mufindi district earn less income compared to
male graduates. The mean income of male graduates was found to be Tshs. 119
216.67 while that of female was Tshs. 86 333.33. This is to say men earn 30.1%
more than women. The difference was also found to be statistically significant at p <
0.05. However, there was no significant association between income and type of
skill, duration of training and form of training (p > 0.05).
Study findings also
revealed that 20.8% of the respondents’ households were poorest while 19.2% of
them were better off. Major problems faced by respondents were inadequate capitaliii
and high taxes charged for their enterprises. It was concluded that vocational
education contributes a lot in poverty reduction among VET graduates in Mufindi
district. Since capital was found to be the main constraint to VET graduates the study
recommends that district councils and vocational training centres should help to link
them with micro-financing institutions, which can provide them with credit facilities.
If possible revolving loan funds should be established for the graduates and link with
savings components. This will enable them acquire working capital easily and hence
expand their enterprises.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Vocational education, Poverty reduction, Vet graduates