STEM Dreams Cut Short: 59 percent Girls Blame Financial Barriers
A new report, Unlocking Potential: Financial Aid as a Catalyst for Girls STEM Success, reveals that 59% of girls cite financial constraints as the primary reason for not pursuing STEM education beyond secondary school. The study conducted by Sattva Consulting in collaboration with AISECT, highlights how the high cost of science education, limited scholarship accessibility, and lack of female role...
A new report, Unlocking Potential: Financial Aid as a Catalyst for Girls STEM Success, reveals that 59% of girls cite financial constraints as the primary reason for not pursuing STEM education beyond secondary school. The study conducted by Sattva Consulting in collaboration with AISECT, highlights how the high cost of science education, limited scholarship accessibility, and lack of female role models prevent millions of girls in India from entering STEM fields.
The study employed a mixed-methods research approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to understand the financial barriers preventing girls from pursuing STEM education. A total of 4,763 girls from government schools across four states-Rajasthan, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh were surveyed for the study. In addition to student surveys, the research incorporated interviews with teachers, parents, school principals, STEM experts, and policymakers to assess the broader systemic challenges.
Despite 80% of future jobs requiring STEM skills, only 39% of girls graduate from higher secondary education in science disciplines. The report highlights stark regional disparities, with over 60% of girls in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh opting for STEM subjects, while in states like Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jharkhand, participation remains critically low at less than 25%. Owing to the low percentage of girls passing grade 12th in science streams, these states were chosen as the study area, with Madhya Pradesh being the only outlier despite being in a similar geography.
Siddharth Chaturvedi, Director of AISECT, emphasised the importance of addressing these challenges. "We commissioned this report to better understand the systemic barriers preventing girls from entering STEM fields. While discussions around gender equality in education have gained momentum, financial constraints remain an overlooked challenge. By identifying key gaps, we hope this report will drive meaningful interventions that ensure STEM education is accessible for all girls."
