SKI x AISECT report | Empowering Women in STEM: From Classrooms to Careers

India globally accounts for 31.7% of all Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics graduates (students having technical higher education after completing school), positioning itself as a significant player in the world's STEM job market. Between 2016 and 2019, there was a 44% increase in STEM-related job roles in India, according to Indeed. With the emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Mckinsey has predicted nearly 60-65 million jobs to be created in India's core digital sectors by 2025. These sectors, including information technology, digital communication, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and digital finance, form the backbone of India's developing economy. The growth in these sectors – driven by advancements in areas such as generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), green jobs, robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) – indicates a burgeoning demand for STEM skills.

India, with a desire to become the largest economy in the world, is eyeing the need to foster scientific curiosity in students. This is evident in the substantial increase in the interim budget allocations for 2024-25. The Department of School Education & Literacy has received the highest-ever budget allocation of ?73,498 crores for the FY 2024-25, with ?37,453 crores earmarked for Samagra Shiksha. The government has also announced the establishment of a corpus of 1 lakh crore rupees, a significant financial commitment, to provide 50-year interest-free loans to tech-savvy youth.

Despite the efforts, as per PLFS (2021-22), 96% of students in India are not pursuing technical or professional education, thus highlighting a massive gap in the demand and supply of skilled manpower. Past research also highlights that female students in India are 20% ?less likely to choose STEM or commerce education than their male counterparts. With girls facing this additional challenge to pursue STEM education, there is a heightened risk of their further exclusion from the workforce.?

Investing in STEM education for girls significantly impacts their economic and social empowerment. By equipping girls with STEM skills, they can transition from low-skill jobs to secure and higher-paying positions, addressing the low female labour force participation rate in India. This formalisation of the female workforce has the potential to contribute $700 billion to India's GDP by 2025, thereby boosting economic growth by 1.4%. Sattva Knowledge Institute’s research highlights ecosystem-level structural and social challenges that impact girls' aspirations and agency to choose the science stream in higher secondary grades as the biggest hindrances to achieving this potential.?

As part of our efforts at Sattva Knowledge Institute, in collaboration with AISECT, we conducted an in-depth research study focusing on finding solutions to these systemic challenges. The insights in the report have been generated following a mixed methodology, relying on the quantitative and qualitative data of the following:

I. A thorough review of 30+ public reports on gender and STEM education

II. Extensive focus group discussions with girls from 9th to 12th grades across ten states and?

III. Interviews with 40+ experts from diverse backgrounds, including government stakeholders, private sector corporations, research organisations, and civil society organisations

IV. In collaboration with AISECT, a national-level workshop was conducted to enable more girls to participate in STEM education. The workshop was attended by 30 experts from diverse backgrounds, including industry experts, grassroots NGOs, and CSR practitioners. The insights from this workshop helped validate the recommendations made in the report to enable system-level problem-solving to enable girls’ uptake of STEM education.?

Challenges like high Science education costs, low self-esteem, and gender stereotypes hinder girls' STEM participation. Addressing this is crucial for enabling their aspirations and careers. Stay tuned for the release of Sattva Knowledge Institute’s collaborative report with AISECT, 'Barriers to Breakthrough: Encouraging Girls' Participation in STEM Education' today!