An Evaluation of Handicrafts Technical and Vocational Trainings of Rural Women

Training rural women is an effective step toward sustainable rural development. The general purpose of this descriptive survey was to evaluate informal technical and vocational trainings of rural women. The study population included rural women in Sanandaj city. According to Krejcie & Morgan’s Table (1980), a sample of 120 respondents were selected using stage sampling method. Research instrument was a questionnaire whose face and content validity was approved by a panel of experts. To estimate its reliability a use was made of test-retest method which indicated its reliability. The findings of the study pointed to a significant difference between respondents’ skills prior and subsequent to receiving the trainings. An exploration of the knowledge changes of rural women in regard to their education, further, indicated that there was a significant difference in knowledge changes as far as their education levels were concerned. The aim of these trainings is job creation in order to foster economic growth of rural areas. Unfortunately, there is, however, faint possibility for rural women to work in handicrafts industry due to limited funds and unprofitable small-scale production. To solve this problem, it is suggested that cooperative companies of rural women and those of carpet-making be set up in villages.