Gender-Responsive TVET Framework

Vocational education plays a pivotal role in achieving gender equality in skill development, and it has impacted the participation of women in labor market. Although there are various schemes and programs run by different ministries of India, they lack gender focus. As a result, it has widened the gender gap in various socio-economic indicators. This chapter proposes a TVET framework from gender perspective along with the review of current technical and vocational education system in India. It also identifies the challenges faced by women in enhancing their skills and its impact on their employability.

Significant Influences of Digital Literacy to Promote Gender Equity and Equality in Education

This chapter shows the importance of digital literacy to enrich the concept of gender towards inequity and inequality to use digital resources. Digital resources are significant areas of the digital information economy. However, it has been observed that opportunities are given differently to genders to use digital resources that can enhance skills and knowledge. Therefore, to critically understand how gender matters in digital literacy is tested in the digital teaching environment. The study is based on quantitative research to illustrate that gender differences are the main hurdles in the learning of digital literacy. The study has found that gender differences are initiated from classroom interactions and goes up to collaborative learning processes. Finally, the research recommends that the emerging gender inequalities have to be considered critically to initiate and facilitate gender equity and equality.

Gender Gap in Skill Development

Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is one of the 17 goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unfortunately, gender inequality practices still occur in nearly all fields of development; one of which is the skill development. The India Skills Report 2017 highlighted the gap between men and women in gaining employment across all sectors. This chapter analyzes gender gap in skill development, identifies challenges of gender stereotyped labor market, assesses government programs for skill development, and suggests remedial measures to fill the gender gap in skill development. The chapter uses secondary sources like India Skill Report, Gender Gap Report, World Economic Forum, and UNDP reports related to skill development focusing on gender gaps. The chapter gives a clear understanding of gender gap, skill development, and the challenges faced by women in a gender stereotyped labor market. The chapter ends by suggesting measures to fill these gaps.

How Bangladesh Is Increasing the Employability of Females With Technical Training Programs

The authors of this chapter provide the background for Bangladeshi women's plight to achieve gender equality in the labor force. To be educated and trained as their male counterparts, many factors must be taken into consideration. While poverty and vulnerability continue to be faced by many Bangladeshi citizens, the government has initiated policies and programs to address the need for more trained skilled workers, including females. In recent years, the population growth has reduced, and health and education has improved. In the past, women were employed in typical trades such as sewing, typing, and hazardous and exploitative jobs. Today, government policies and procedures, such as the National Education Policy, have implemented training programs to address gender inequality to employ more women in various trades, with some owning their own businesses, such as the three success stories presented in this study of women whose economic status has benefited greatly from training programs.

Vocational Education and Training for Women

Emphasizing on the need for greater skill development efforts in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his campaign “Skill India” in July 2015. The recommenced and vigorous focus on skill development, which is noticeable in various government and non-government initiatives, underlines the evolving importance of skill development. This chapter tries to address the demand and implementation of skill development and training program for a highly disposed yet enormously untended segment of the society (i.e., rural women). By taking the example of two states, namely, Assam and Maharashtra, the chapter discusses on the current context, aptness, and predilection of the rural female folk; the perception; and recommends attainable solutions. Additionally, it highlights the evolving customized region-specific solutions that take into account various traditional, social, cultural, and demographic aspects.

Gender Equity and Social Inclusion

All over the globe, the majority of women are in health, education, caring sector, but they are underrepresented in fields such as engineering, manufacturing, construction, and science. This in turn affects women's professional choices, income levels, and future growth. Consequently, efforts are needed not only to achieve parity in education but also to help overcome the political, economic, and social barriers that hinder girls from pursuing employment in traditionally male fields and making use of their education and skills. Young women also lack equitable access to public vocational training and other job-training programs. These are crucial for developing skills useful in emerging markets and value-added activities. Efforts are needed to get women into job-training initiatives that will prepare them for the new jobs available in the global economy.

Skill Challenge in Bengaluru's Garment Industry

Karnataka's capital, Bengaluru, is one of the fastest growing garment-producing hubs in the country. Feminization in Bengaluru's garment industry began in the late 1980s, and the phenomenon has been explained in the chapter. There is also a gender-wage gap, with women being paid less for the same work designation as men. The chapter also highlights the skill gaps in the various skill development programs run by the Government of India. Recently, migrant workers from long distant states are drawn to Bengaluru's garment industry. These workers are mostly women who are skilled and recruited through the Government of India's program like Gram Tarang, which is sponsored under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojna (DDUGKY). The chapter documents the narratives of the city's garment workers. The chapter looks at the skill perspective from gender lens and compares it with the condition of the textile industry in the colonial period. Instances of informal employment industry in the industry have also been located, and linkages with skill development have been drawn.

Gender Issues in Vocational Education and Training in India

The data unveils that India's workforce productivity is lower than that of many other developing countries. At the same time, India is also facing skill gap challenge because of the non-availability of skilled labor force in different sectors. There are very few adequately skilled workers in the employment system. Thus, multiple mismatches emerge, where on one side the sectors like manufacturing, crafts, etc. are desperately looking for skilled workers while on the other side the young job starters cannot find adequate employment. Also, India has a huge informal sector that employs more than 90% of all workers of the labor force and contributes in 60% of the country's economic output. If India is to become a major manufacturing power, then there should be the development of a network which can promote and reward skills and productivity. There should also be equal representation of gender in terms of participation in works and skill development. In 2011, out of a total workforce of 481.7 million, 149.9 million or 31% are women.

Gender Issues and Priorities in Republic of Belarus

In today's world, sustainable development of society is impossible without gender equality. Gender equality is one of the indicators of the level of democratization of society, the level of its civilization. There are gender-related problems in the world of access to resources and benefits, such as access to education or healthcare and treatment, or wage differentials between women and men. These differences are usually caused, in particular, by the customs of society, religious prejudices, social conditions. Gender stratification in society provokes an uneven distribution of wealth, power, and privileges between men and women in the aftermath. Gender issues are addressed at all levels, including legislation, policies, economic, and social programs. The ultimate goal of integration is to achieve gender equality.

Youth Participation in the National Development Plan Through Technical and Vocational Education and Training

This chapter is empirical in nature rather than being entirely conceptual and theoretical. The chapter aims to explore and describe youth participation in the South African National Development Plan through technical and vocational education and training (TVET) by capturing the case studies of four young Black women as primary sources of data. Secondary sources of data were obtained from a collection of extant literature, textbooks, journal articles, and internet sources. The chapter discusses challenges regarding the participation of these young Black women in TVET and recommendations to mitigate these challenges are proffered. These recommendations are based on the principles of social justice, inclusion, diversity, equity, and equality.