The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Stigma in Developing Countries The Case of the Furniture Sector in Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana  the role and importance of technical and vocational education and training ( TVET) are not clearly understood by the citizenry. This has led to misconceptions and poor public image of TVET  because many people still hold the view that TVET is good for students who cannot use their brains or students who do not qualify for admission into the universities. Consequently, furniture design and production programme  at the pre- and  tertiary levels institutions  in Ghana are frowned upon  even among technical and vocational  graduates. This is indicated by the dwindling number of students patronizing wood work and furniture design programmes at these levels of training in recent times. The purpose of the study is the explore the nature and impact of  TVET stigma on the performance of the furniture trade and the trend of enrolment in both Technical and Polytechnic institutions. Using convenience sampling technique, data were collected from graduates  from pre-tertiary Technical and vocational institutions in the southern part of the country. The study revealed that guardian’s/parent’s dislike and low public image  as some of the stigma for the furniture profession. Furthermore, less than 50% of the respondents would be motivated to opt for the  programme even if an offer of full scholarship is made. The general negative societal perception about the furniture trade persist and that incites even graduates of technical and vocational institution not to opt for the programme.

Keywords: technical and vocational education and training ( TVET), furniture, pre-tertiary and tertiary, stigma.