About the RUFORUM 2010 Biennal Conference
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholders in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Information Systems"
Attracting women into agricultural education: Constraints and best practice
Abstract:
The study focuses on women’s participation in higher
agricultural education in four African countries. Barriers begin
at secondary school where girls are less likely to take natural
sciences, and negative perceptions of agriculture prevent girls
and boys from perusing the subject. Women who select
agriculture for higher studies received strong support from their
families. Course selection in agriculture is highly gendered, along
with participation in course activities. Challenges for women
during studies were harassment, social pressure, lack of
amenities and inadequate support of student mothers and
pregnant students. There are some programmes addressing these
barriers; however, effectiveness has been limited.
L’étude met l’accent sur la participation des femmes dans
l’enseignement supérieur agricole dans quatre pays africains.
Les obstacles commencent à l’école secondaire où les filles sont
moins susceptibles d’opter pour les sciences naturelles, et les
perceptions négatives de l’agriculture empêchent les filles et les
garçons de s’intéresser à ce sujet. Les femmes qui choisissent
l’agriculture pour les études supérieures ont reçu un grand soutien
de leur famille. La sélection pour les cours en agronomie est
très discriminatoire, ainsi que la participation à des activités des
cours. Les défis pour les femmes durant les études ont été le
harcèlement, la pression sociale, le manque d’équipements et
un soutien insuffisant pour les mères étudiantes et les étudiantes
enceintes. Il y a des programmes pour éliminer ces obstacles;
cependant, l’efficacité a été limitée.
Language:
English
Constraints and best practice
Date of publication:
2010
Country:
Region Focus:
East Africa
University/affiliation:
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Extent:
1847-1851
Notes:
