Education's Gender Gap

India was ranked 129th out of 146 economies in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2024 study on global gender disparities, with a drop in the education sector being identified as a significant contributing cause. Analyzing data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) and the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE+), this study investigates the steps that must be taken to guarantee that both boys and girls finish their education.

The Growing Education Gender Gap

Indicators of Educational Attainment
According to the WEF's June report, India's gender parity levels have decreased from the previous year due to updated numbers on educational attainment. Despite the large amount of women enrolled in primary, intermediate, and postsecondary education, there is a 17.2 percentage point difference in the literacy rates between men and women. India's score in the education category fell to 0.964 in the 18th edition of the report, placing it 124th in terms of educational attainment. This is a considerable decline from the country's flawless score of 1.000 the year before, when it was ranked 26th. The adult literacy rate and the enrollment rates in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education are the important indicators.

Interpretation of Data
The primary data for indices of educational attainment are gathered and updated by UNESCO, according to WEF's Insight and Data Lead. While data from 2018–2021 and 2022 were used in the 17th edition of the Index, data from 2022 and 2023 were utilized in the 18th edition. Gender parity data must be carefully interpreted because changes in scores may reflect revisions in the values corresponding to the indicators.

Indian Statistics on Enrollment in Schools and Colleges

Data on Enrollment in Institutions
The Union Education Ministry tracks college and school enrollment data using AISHE and UDISE+. According to the UDISE+ report for 2021–2022, girls account for 48% of students, with 13.79 crore boys and 12.73 crore girls enrolled. This percentage does, however, change depending on the educational level. Girls make up 46.8% of enrolled preschoolers, 47.8% of primary school students (Classes 1 through 5), and 48.3% of upper primary students (Classes 6 through 8). In secondary school (Classes 9 and 10), the ratio falls to 47.9%, suggesting that some females leave school when their free education expires after Class 8. The gender difference closes to 48.3% at the upper secondary level (Classes 11 and 12), indicating that girls who enroll in secondary education are more likely to finish it.

Enrollment in Higher Education
According to the AISHE report for 2021–2022, women make up a slightly higher gross enrollment ratio (GER) in higher education at 28.5% than males do at 28.3%. Between 2014 and 2015, the number of women enrolled in higher education climbed by 32%. However, neither AISHE nor UDISE+ have yet to release statistics for 2022–2023.

Effects of Education Incentives for Girls

Infrastructure and Accessibility in Schools
The biggest influence on females' education has been the building of more schools. Parents are encouraged to enroll their children, especially girls, when they live close to schools. The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration reports that during the mid-1990s, the number of schools has increased dramatically, coinciding with a national increase in the enrollment of females. Regional disparities still exist, though. females make up only 45.2% of secondary students in Gujarat, where secondary and higher secondary institutions are mostly private. In contrast, higher percentages of females attend secondary schools in impoverished states like Jharkhand (50.7%), Chhattisgarh (51.2%), Bihar (50.1%), and Uttar Pradesh (45.4%).

Safety and Female Teachers
It is imperative that there be more female teachers. Schools in low-enrollment areas frequently have one or two teachers on staff, and parents are hesitant to send their daughters to schools where there are only men teaching. Girls' enrollment and retention rates can be raised by ensuring a balanced teacher-to-student ratio.

Sanitation and Transportation
Enrollment has increased as a result of transportation amenities including free bus passes in Haryana, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu and free bicycles in Bihar; however, comparable programs had less of an impact in Rajasthan. Sanitation problems are still a big obstacle, particularly for postpubescent girls. Even though government funds were used to build restrooms in schools, upkeep is frequently disregarded, which causes dropout rates to rise after Class 8.

upcoming difficulties

Taking Care of Male Dropouts
Although the gender gap in higher grades has been effectively addressed in many jurisdictions, there is growing worry about boys leaving school early. Girls made up 51.2% of higher secondary pupils in Tamil Nadu, 53.1% in Chhattisgarh, and 55.7% in West Bengal. This trend might be influenced by the Right to Education Act, which prohibits failing pupils until Class 8. Boys who do poorly in secondary school frequently leave school, sometimes as a result of pressure to make a living. To guarantee that boys stay interested in and finish their school, steps must be taken.

Adult Literacy and Higher Education
There are differences by region and discipline in higher education, despite the fact that the GER for women is higher than the GER for men. Just 42.5% of undergraduate and graduate students in STEM disciplines are female. It's difficult to inspire more girls to choose STEM fields of study. According to the 2011 Census, adult literacy is still a problem, with only 64.63% of women and 80.88% of males being literate. Closing the gender gap requires strengthening basic literacy in the classroom and providing education to women living in rural areas.

In summary
Building additional schools, employing female instructors, offering safe transportation, and making sure there is enough sanitary facilities are just a few of the many strategies needed to close the gender gap in education. Even though there has been a noticeable increase in the number of females enrolled in and staying in school, more has to be done to keep boys from dropping out and to encourage more women to pursue STEM careers and higher education. For India to thrive as a whole, educational parity must be achieved, and this will take time and deliberate action.