President Jakaya Kikwete has challenged Africa’s First Ladies to inspire young women to pursue science subjects and thereby reduce the challenge of scientists and experts in science related subjects.
He was speaking during the third BUNENGI African First Ladies Discussion on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in the United States of America on September 22.
He said the First Ladies act as role models for young women and hence should use their positions to motivate girls to pursue science subjects.
According to Dr Kikwete, the number of women scientists, engineers, mathematicians and doctors in most Africa countries – Tanzania included- is very low compared to that of men.
“I am optimistic that using their voice, clout and social influence, First Ladies will elevate this agenda (on Women and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to the importance it deserves.
“It is a fact that a gender gap exists in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This gap exists in both developed and developing countries alike.
“However, it is wider in developing countries than in developed ones,” said Kikwete. His speech was circulated yesterday to the press by the Directorate of Presidential Communications.
It said the gap is primarily a result of historical injustices associated with skewed gender relations.
According to the President, in many countries gender inequality still exists widely. It also continues to deter women from advancing in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, he said.
Generally, these fields are considered to be masculine and, therefore, are believed to be exclusive for men, the statement said.
It quoted the President as saying that Tanzania, like many other African countries, lags behind in terms of the number of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“This gap has both an historical as well as social-cultural background. Historically, as a country, we started from a very low base to build a pool of scientists after independence.
“At independence in 1961, for example, Tanzania had only two engineers and four doctors and all of them happened to be males,” he recalled.
However, irrespective of gender consideration, Tanzania has a shortage of scientists, engineers and mathematicians in relation to demand, he noted.
He said despite the shortage, women are fewer than men.
In Tanzania the enrollment of science students increased from 32,899 in 2008/2009 to 51,840 in 2012/2013, but the number of female students did not increase.
He said between 2008 and 2013, there was an increase of only 5,622 female students, which is only about 2.4 percent.
He explained that in 2012/2013, out of 51,840 university students enrolled in agriculture, medical science, natural science, ICT and educational science degree courses, there were only 16,241 female students. This is about 31.3 percent compared to 35,599 male students who made up 68.67 percent, he said.
However, the President said his government was doing all it could to ensure that there is a conducive environment for both male and female students to pursue science subjects.
Measures that the government is taking include ensuring that all secondary schools have in place science laboratories, he noted.
He said the government has also ensured that students pursuing such subjects are offered scholarships and/or 100 percent loans. This is apart from them getting employed soon after graduating, he said.
In addition, the government has increased funds for procuring science books, he told the First Ladies.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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