The effects of the vocational courses in the public education centers on women's labor participations and employment: Example of Yalova province

Adults play a major role in the social, cultural and economic development of a society.It is only through training that adults gain the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to exhibit the right attitudes and behaviors, to keep up with the changing world, to participate in the workforce and to achieve stability in their work. When we look at adult life from past to present, we see that education is part of it. But rapidly changing and developing science and technology necessitated the education of individuals in a more systematic and scientific way.With the rapid development of science and technology, new professions have emerged, the structure of work has changed and the need for skilled labor has increased. In order to keep up with these changes, to train qualified labor force and to provide economic and technological development, vocational training was needed. The participation of women in the labor force and their employment, which are among the disadvantaged groups that constitute the subject of social policy, will contribute to both social welfare and development of the country.Dur to both the responsibilities that society places on women and the gender discrimination that they face in the society, women cannot receive education or leave their education in the middle.Women's inability to participate in education, or their inability to complete their educational life, is one of the major factors that prevent women from participating in employment.In this context, vocational training courses will play an important role in women's participation in the labor force and their employment by increasing their education levels and providing them with a profession. Participation of women in the labor force and their employment will contribute both to social welfare and development of the country. In this study, the public education and vocational education concepts are included in the historical processes and Public Education Centers, one of the most important institutions where adult education takes place, are discussed.Survey conducted to trainees attending courses offered at public education centers in Yalova province and interviews with female trainees who continued courses for vocational training and the effects of these courses on labor participation and employment of women were examined.