Girls now far outnumber boys in Uttar Pradesh colleges, univs
62.95% students were girls, 37% boys in 27 state universities and 7,391 degree colleges of Uttar Pradesh in the 2020-21 session
The constant efforts made over the past few decades to promote education among girls in Uttar Pradesh are finally starting to show results, officials have said.
The latest data of the state’s higher education department shows that the girls enrolled in state universities and colleges affiliated to them in Uttar Pradesh far outnumber boys, the officials said.
In the past four years, the number of girls enrolling for higher education increased by 13%, they added.
The latest report of the UP Higher Education Directorate sent to the state government said 27 state universities and 7,391 degree colleges of UP in 2020-21 session have a total of 50,21,277 students enrolled in them, out of which 62.95% are girls. The count of boys is 18,60,220 (37%), they added. Four years ago, in the academic session 2017-18, there were a total of 55,74,638 registered students in UP’S 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 50,21,277 41,83,992 43,82,527 55,74,638 18,60,220 (37.04) 19,69,206 (47.06) 20,74,205 (47.32) 27,97,501 (50.18)
change in the social perception finally led to girls being encouraged to go for academics, making use of the various government schemes that allow free of cost education to girls right from schools to the college and university level.
“Earlier, many parents were prompted to invest in boys’ education believing that they would support the home and be a pillar of strength during old age but with time and awareness, the realisation has finally sunk in that educated girls can not only be good professionals and support homes, but also lead a configirls 31,61,057 (62.95) 22,14,786 (52.93) 23,08,322 (52.67)
27,77,137 (49.81)
in educational institutions in the state is also visible at the school level. The number of girls registering for UP Board’s class 10 exams has doubled in the past three decades.
In 1991, UP Board had a total of 17,75,602 registered students for high school exams that included 14,04,519 boys (79.10%) and 3,71,083 girls (20.89%). However, in 2021, there were a total of 29,94,312 students registered for the class 10 exams that included 16,74,022 boys (55.90%) and 13,20,290 girls (44.09%). Psychologists also credit this situation to the change in the outlook residing in rural areas w especially reluctant in term educating girls, especially al ing them to pursue higher cation. However, as the im tance of education sunk in, the various government in tives, including free educat scholarships, systematic c selling as well as campaign radio, TV, all played their roles in bringing about change,” said Dr Usha Chan director of the Bureau of chology, UP.
Trend in line with national pattern
This trend in UP is along lines of the pattern being nessed at the national level, Prof Badri Narayan, noted s scientist and director of GB Social Scientist.
He said the All India Su on Higher Education (AIS 2019-20 released in June showed that apart from m females being enrolled in M postgraduate and certifi level courses in universities colleges, they were also cont ing to dominate in medical ences, BA and BSC program
“However, the share of fe students is the lowest in i tutes of national importa where there has been an ov increase of over 18% in fe enrolment in higher educa between 2015-16 and 2019-2 per the report,” he said.
The Gross Enrolment Rat females stands at 27.3%, whi