Women constitute about 48 per cent of the country’s total population. However, according to the Education Ministry, women make up only 28 per cent of the workforce in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields. To encourage more girls to take up STEM-related careers and help them perform well in schools, a STEM camp for girls is being conducted in Paro. The three-day camp began today.
About 50 class IX girls from across the country are taking part in the first girls’ STEM camp. Most of them are Science enthusiasts and have dreams of taking up careers such as astronauts, pilots and space engineers. But to achieve this, they will need to perform well in STEM subjects.
“The camp will provide us with not only school education but it also provides us with critical thinking which is important for our future and day-to-day basis,” said Sharmila Ghalley, a Participant.
An Education Ministry report reveals that in 2017, only about 33 % of the students in the STEM field were girls.
“The participation of girls in STEM-related fields as well as their sustainability when they progress from high school to tertiary education to further into their careers, we see a decline in the trend of girls participation and women’s participation,” said Yeshey Choden, a Space Engineer/STEM Advocate.
“Girls outperform boys in lower classes such as classes VII, VIII and IX. But as they reach classes XI and XII boys overtake the girls in STEM subjects. I cannot name out specific reasons for the change,” added Namgay Dem, a Teacher, in Mendrelgang Central School of Tsirang.
“UNESCO has stated that this gender disparity is due to gender discrimination, biases, social norms and expectations that influence the quality of education the girls and women receive and the subjects they study,” said Karma Tshering, the Education Secretary.
The participants will get to take part in various stem-based activities as well as engage with real women working in STEM fields.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
Edited by Sangay Chezom
