Abstract:
The low participation of women in non-traditional occupations such as
engineering continues to be a grave problem in spite of the wide extension of education
and vocational opportunities opened to them world-wide.
The main purpose of this research was therefore to investigate what militates
against the entry of women into the engineering profession and find ways of promoting
the interest of women in the engineering profession.
The research was exploratory in nature, employing the qualitative case study
method. However, a quantitative technique was employed to assist in the data analysis.
The data was collected through semi-structured, open-ended interview schedules on an
individual, face-to-face basis. Information was also collected from the School of
Engineering of the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi by observing
students past results and entry requirement tor the engineering programmes.
The data collected in transcribed form, were sorted out and put into categories
for analysis. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages and one-tailed
Fisher Exact Probability Test.
Results of the study revealed that the participation rate of women in engineering
in Ghana was very low for their effective participation in national development. The
concentration of both engineering students and practicing women engineers was more in
civil engineering than in the other engineering disciplines. Some of the women
engineers had parents who were themselves engineers Natural curiosity which
comprised interest in science and mathematics and desire to do engineering jobs such as
building among others, had the most influence on the career choices of the women
engineers. Almost all the women engineers expressed satisfaction With their chosen
careers. Respondents had no access to guidance and counselling in both the secondary schools and the universities. The major constraint confronting women engineers in
training was difficulty in understanding mathematical concepts.
Both women and men engineering respondents perceived the engineering careers
as suitable for both men and women provided positive attitude is developed towards it.
