50% more women in higher education in India, but fewer choose engineering, IT

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^{Published in Science and Technology on Sunday, February 9th 2025 at 23:42 GMT by Newslaundry}

In Southern India, particularly in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, there is a higher uptake of science by girls in schools. Nearly 100 percent of schools offer science in grades 11 and 12, and over 75 percent of girls pass grade 12 with science. This indicates that many girls choose science, with 75 percent successfully completing it.

The article from Newslaundry discusses the gender disparity in higher education in India, particularly in STEM fields. Despite a significant increase in the number of women enrolling in higher education, with women now outnumbering men by 50%, there remains a stark underrepresentation in engineering and IT sectors. Data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-21 shows that while women's enrollment in higher education has grown, their participation in engineering courses is only about 29.5%. This gap is attributed to various factors including societal expectations, lack of role models, and the perception that these fields are male-dominated. The article highlights initiatives like the Women in Engineering program by Wipro and efforts by educational institutions to encourage more female participation, but notes that systemic changes are needed to truly bridge this gap.

Read the Full Newslaundry Article at:
[ https://www.newslaundry.com/2025/02/10/50-more-women-in-higher-education-in-india-but-fewer-choose-engineering-it ]