Education

Although the usual definition of the concept “informal business” does not regard education as an important variable we maintain that education is essential in any kind of informal business. Among the total number of women surveyed (N=300) the majority (N= 190=63.3%) had primary school education. None in the lower and middle classes had any University education. Only 2(0.66%) upper class women had a University education, all of whom had retired or resigned from government service to carry out their informal businesses.

Inspite of the lack of adequate eduction among many women in the informal sector, they make some profits which enable them to survive, even though the profit obtained in some businesses (less than 1%) is not enough to warrant them to be regarded as businesses at all. These women must acquire some kind of education and skills which will help them run the businesses more profitably.