TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT: A JORDANIAN CASE STUDY

Abstract

The empowerment of women has become a crucial topic for economic and social development, particularly in developing countries. This study focuses on the Northern provinces of Jordan (Irbid, Ajloun, and Jarash) and aims to identify the constraints faced by women in their efforts towards empowerment as well as the impact of technical and vocational education programs in addressing these issues. A pretest and posttest pilot study was conducted on 50 unemployed female trainees who were trained on executive secretarial skills for nine months over two years. The findings indicate that technical education and vocational training have a positive impact on women's empowerment and that social constraints were identified as the primary obstacles. The study emphasizes the need for greater efforts to encourage the participation of women in the labor market and to equip them with the skills required to succeed in the workplace. Ultimately, the empowerment of women is crucial for economic growth and social cohesion in Jordan