Virtual Panel Discussion on Women in TVET - Overcoming the Barriers

Many girls and women face many challenges from an early age leading to gender-biassed settings concerning opportunities, proper education and gender expectations, more so in rural areas. This issue is quite pronounced in developing countries, where many still see women as weak and unable to fit in high-energy roles. Some of the limitations are internally self-imposed based on cultural messages girls receive. While Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has seen tremendous growth in Malaysia due to demand for higher education and the government’s effort to promote TVET institutions through the establishment of the National TVET Council, the social orientation of many people towards female TVET is that women may be prepared for hard labour jobs they are not suited for when choosing technical jobs such as construction and engineering. Family influences and social expectations are the main factors affecting vocational enrolment and career choices. This notion needs to be addressed urgently as it will only hinder the crucial contribution of women to society, the economy and human capital development as a whole. This virtual panel discussion aims to address the stigma of “appropriate career choices” and gender roles, stressing that women can choose any career because of their interests and ability to deliver instead of restricting those choices based on gender. Innovation and technology are also powerful tools to highlight equal opportunities for women in TVET to close the gender gap by featuring success stories and achievements of women in TVET; hence, normalising women in male-dominated careers within the society. Social media platforms can be used to connect women in TVET across the globe and the nation to raise awareness of gender gaps and promote TVET-related careers, especially Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for girls.