Factors affect students choice of the weaving-knitting departments of vocational and technical high schools

Ill SUMMARY This study aims to determine the effects on students' choice of weaving- knitting departments of vocational and technical high schools in the province of Ankara. The conditions under which the students made their choices about undergoing in this expensive type of education have been investigated. Economic, social and individual factors affecting their choice have been tried to be determined. The survey has been applied in 2002-2004 academic year on 52 9th grade, 60 10th grade and 33 1 1th grade students studying in the weaving-knitting departments of a vocational and two industrial vocational high schools situated in three central towns of the province of Ankara. A survey developed by the researcher has been used as a means of collecting data. The data has been shown in a chi-square table using a SPSS 11.0 software package. Frequency and percentage distributions, reasons of students in choosing vocational and technical high schools and branches of vocations according to students' individual and socio-economic features have been shown. More than half of the students subjected to the investigation were male. Most of the students graduated with good or medium grades from their previous school. Most of the students come from families with low socio-economic levels and parents of most of them are primary school graduates. In addition, most of the mothers don't work and fathers are commonly workers or tradesman. Students have chosen vocational and technical high schools generally to have a job from the short cut or bearing in mind the possibility of not being able to enter a university.IV Families and environment have an effect on most of the students' direction to the relevant schools. The number of students who chose these schools as a result systematic direction is quite small. The fact that there is a wide range of employment opportunity in the weaving- knitting sector have directed the students to these departments. Students think that they will be able to find a job in their field and secure a medium level income. Most of the students stated that they would choose military or vocational high school if they were given a second chance. The results obtained show that students wish to have job in a short period of time due to socio-economic factors.