We often come across a famous quote which goes on to say, " If we educate a woman, we educate a family, if we educate a girl, we educate the future." Did you know this quote was also given by a woman? Queen Rania of Jordan.
Now, before we delve deep into this compelling topic, let us state some statistics to get an idea of this complex issue. The Annual Survey of Education Report 2023 found that girls within the age of 14-18 years expressed a desire to stay within the education system and complete their undergraduate level studies, if not more.
Though a welcoming shift, the larger issue that looms is that girls despite staying in schools longer are not gaining the required skills, knowledge or confidence required to successfully navigate their lives as independent adults. Other than basic reading proficiency, males outperformed females on every single assessment task. Also, as pandemic accelerated the shift to online education, the report found that while reasonably similar proportions of males and females have used a smartphone for education and other tasks, males were twice as likely to access online services like for paying a bill or booking a ticket (38% males versus 19% females).
So, what then are the challenges in achieving Gender Equity in India's schools:
Gender Equity in Learning Outcomes: National Achievement Survey (2017) shows parity in learning levels between girls and boys in elementary schools. However, with increasing levels of education, girls have higher dropout rates than boys due to social norms and gender stereotypes corelated with female adolescence.
Gender Gap in Enrolment in Private Schools: More boys than girls tend to be enrolled in private institutions. The free enrolment of girls in government schools also highlights the societal gender biases in exercising school choices.
Poverty, geographical isolation, disabilities , safety concerns and geographical isolation are some of the other underlying challenges.
Gender based violence also paints a grim picture. As per National Family Health Survey -5 Report, nearly one third women in India experienced physical or sexual violence.
Women are underrepresented in the hardcore science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields (STEM). This causes a confidence gap among young females, which further holds them back in making progressive career choices.
Way Ahead:
UNESCO Strategy for Gender Equality in and through Education (2019-2025) focuses on a system wide transformation to benefit all learners in 3 key areas: better data to inform action, better legal and policy frameworks to advance rights and lastly learning practices to empower.
A study shows each extra year of a mother's schooling reduces the probability of infant mortality by 5-10%
13% of India's population is between 0-6 years old. If these children are exposed to gender-equal environments, it will create a significant impact.
Goverment of India efforts to remove gender inequality in higher education includes initiatives like Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) to promote gender equity in science and technology, Knowledge Involvement through Nurturing (KIRAN) to encourage women scientists in science and also prevent them from leaving research due to family related reasons are noteworthy.
Increasing female participants in decision-making bodies such as the board of governors or council of institutes in higher education.
Schools in partnership with civil society and the larger community can provide mentorship and support to students for example by providing role models who overcame challenges to carve a path ahead.
Gender sensitivity training in schools to the teachers, administrative and support staff.
Eliminate gender bias in textbooks before the books are rolled out to students. This includes gender- neutral language and images and ensuring that both genders are well represented in both subjects. Here, the Swedish National Agency for Education guidelines for gender-sensitivity training is a good example.
A study in 80 schools in Ranchi and Khunti districts of Jharkhand found gender equality education in educational institutes is necessary to abolish gender inequality. It found 1/4th of female students came out to support fellow students witnessing violence.
Right to Education 2009 which makes education compulsory for aged 6-14 regardless of gender is a great example of providing equal access to education.
Early Childhood Education should focus on eliminating gender stereotypes right from an early age among students.
CBSE Udaan Scheme focuses on increasing student enrolment in prestigious engineering and technical colleges.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana - a government backed savings scheme to set up a trust for the child's schooling and marriage expenses.
Finally, a multi-faceted approach to create gender-equal spaces example where fathers act as equal caregivers, gender quality programmes in schools like theatres.
To end with a thought-provoking quote by Amartya Sen, " If we continue to leave vast sections of the people of the world outside the orbit of education, we make the world not only less just, but also less secure".
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