Affordability and Quality of Technical and Vocational Education: Implications for Equitable University Access in South-East Nigeria

Purpose: This study examined the implications of affordability and quality of Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) for equitable university access in South-East Nigeria. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 245 participants via a structured Google Survey questionnaire, which featured a 5-point Likert scale for demographic information, affordability, quality, and access. Face and content validity were established through input from three experts, while construct validity was assessed using Principal Component Analysis in SPSS software version 25. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient was utilised to test the instrument's reliability, yielding a satisfactory index of 0.87. Also, the normality tests used include the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. In contrast, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Wilcoxon W test, and Moses’s test were deployed for hypothesis testing. Findings: The non-parametric tests revealed no significant gender differences in affordability, quality, or access. Specifically, the Mann-Whitney U test indicated no significant differences between genders for affordability (p = 0.276) and access (p = 0.202), supported by the Wilcoxon W test and the Moses test after outliers were trimmed. These results suggest that TVE affordability and quality do not significantly predict university access disparities between genders in this region. Research Limitation: The study's reliance on self-reported data may introduce bias, and the specific regional focus limits generalizability. Further research is needed to explore these variables in different contexts and with larger samples. Practical Implication: The findings inform policymakers and educational stakeholders about the need to maintain equitable TVE programmes to ensure fair university access for all genders, promoting gender equity in higher education. Social Implication: This research underscores the importance of equitable TVE provisions in fostering gender-balanced educational opportunities, contributing to broader social equality in South East Nigeria. Originality/Value: This study provides valuable insights into the role of TVE affordability and quality in shaping gender-equitable access to university education, highlighting areas for policy intervention and future research.