DODOMA: Tanzania has made significant progress in empowering women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), with data showing that thirty-six percent of females are engaged in the field.
Globally, the participation rate of women and girls in STEM stands at only thirty-three percent, according to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment, and People with Disabilities), Ridhiwani Kikwete.
Mr Ridhiwani revealed this in Dodoma on Tuesday as Tanzania joined other nations in commemorating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
The day is celebrated annually on February 11, emphasizing that science and gender equality are both essential for achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
To ensure that women and girls actively participate in STEM, Tanzania is implementing decisive measures aimed at motivating them to contribute to economic development and innovation.
“Empowering women and girls in leadership and STEM will not only promote gender equality but also enhance research and innovation to address social and economic challenges,” the minister stated at the event, which was attended by students from various schools in Dodoma.
According to him, in the financial year 2023/24, a total of 176 female students out of 188 who passed a special programme at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) were enrolled in STEM-related courses.
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As the Higher Education Students’ Loan Board (HESLB) prioritizes supporting students in science-related fields, President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Scholarship Scheme Extended is complementing this effort by funding girls pursuing STEM courses.
The minister urged stakeholders to develop systems that will encourage more women and girls to actively engage in STEM.
He also assured that pupils with autism will not be left behind, as the government has programmes in place to nurture their potential.
On his part, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Dr. Wilson Mahela, emphasized that the government will continue working with various stakeholders to increase the number of women and girls in STEM.
Stakeholders at the event noted that collaboration between the public and private sectors will help advance the STEM agenda among girls and women.
Ahead of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Minister of Education, Science, and Technology Omary Kipanga highlighted global education and employment statistics indicating that women and girls remain significantly underrepresented in science fields compared to men.
He called for a stronger public-private partnership to address this challenge.
Tanzania has been commemorating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science since 2021.
