Khanna, Pinki. (2002). “Role of Home Science Vocational Courses for Economic Empowerment of Women”.. Unpublished. ERIC, Education
The population of the study covers all the Home Science vocational passouts of Madhya Pradesh irrespective of se, type of Home Science Vocational Course, year of passing class XII and also the institution from where the passouts completed their vocational studies. The sample size of the study 1999 passouts from various school of Madhya Pradesh who belongs to three Home Science vocational courses which were implemented in Madhya Pradesh- Garment Making, Food & Vegetable Preservation and Bakery & Confectionary.
A questionnaire was used to collect the data from passouts by mailing it to them at their postal addresses. For the development of the questionnaire, a Working Group Meeting was organised at PSSCIVE in which eminent experts of the concerned fields participated and all the relevant aspect of the study were considered.
Descriptive research method was used. The study included the passouts
from the year of implementation of Vocational Education in Madhya Pradesh in
the year 1988-89 to the year 2001.
The obtained data was analysed by using both quantitative and
qualitative techniques. Data analysis was done applying simple statistical
tools viz. frequency, percentage and averages.
To some extent findings reflected lacuna in the implementation of Home Science Vocational Education Programme which indicated the following: Curriculum was not suitable as per the need of the job market; Unavailability of instructional materials; Lack of qualified teachers in adequate number; Inadequate and improper laboratory facility, improper modality for performing practicals and insufficient practical work; Poor quality and inadequate raw material and lack of implementation of school industry linkage, on-the-job training and apprenticeship training.This adversely affected the quality of Vocational Education Programme. The responses regarding Economic Empowerment received by the respondents were found to be very less. On the basis of the same it was found that Home Science vocational courses had important role for Economic Empowerment of women. But no course-wise difference was found regarding Economic Empowerment. Study of the status of Home Science vocational passouts showed disheartening finding that very small number of passouts i.e, only 7.60 percent were engaged in any of the employment while majority of the passouts were unemployed and pursuing or not pursuing higher education.
On the basis of overall findings and conclusions, some recommendations are made for strengthening of implementation of Home Science Vocational Education Programme and support system, for gainful employment of Home Science vocational passouts. Steps to be taken to popularisation of Vocational Education Programme, suitability and availability of curriculum and instructional material, satisfactory laboratory and practical facilities, adequacy of qualified teaching staffs etc,. Action should also be taken by various concerned organisations to help in changing the role, support, attitude and participation of community and society towards the proper placement of vocational passouts.
Keyword(s): Home Science, Vocational Courses, Women Economic empowerment.