Ministry of Women and Child Development in Partnership with UNICEF holds NariShakti Varta on STEM and Financial Literacy For Young Women

Context

Recently, as a part of the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s ‘Iconic Week’ celebrating the International Women’s Day under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, UNICEF YuWaah facilitated the #NaariShakti conversation, on ‘STEM and Financial Literacy for Young Women’.

About

About STEM:

The STEM acronym was introduced in 2001 in the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).
The idea to promote STEM education in India has been supported by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication along with the Department of Science and Technology, GOI.
It is a curriculum that promotes the idea of educating students in disciplines such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
This aims at establishing a robust platform for innovation for the next generation.

India is one of the countries that produce the highest number of scientists and engineers, the growth of STEM has picked up significantly over the last few years.
Under Article 51A of the Constitution of India, it is a duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

Objective
The conference intended to establish a flexible working environment for women along with the need for socio-cultural changes.
To achieve gender parityin the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Significance
A robust STEM education creates critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and next-generation innovators.
According to the National Science Foundation, it is predicted that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills.

Participation of Women in STEM:

About 43% of STEM graduates in Indiaare women, which are the highest in the world, but their share in STEM jobs in India is a mere 14%.
The under-representation of women in STEM majors is common globally, but India presents a particularly curious case.
Here, even though the number of women enrolling in STEM programmes has been increasing year on year, the rising education levels aren't translating into employability or jobs.
As per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2018-19, just 3% of women enroll in PhD in science and only 6% opt for a PhD in Engineering and Technology.
This 'leaky pipeline' in STEM means that fewer women end up reaching higher levels to be selected as professional scientists later.

About UNICEF’s YuWaah:

YuWaah is a multi-stakeholder platform that aims to prepare young people to transition from education and learning to productive work and active citizenship.
It was formed by UNICEF, together with public and private sector partners, UN Agencies, civil society organisations, foundations and young people as the Generation Unlimited (GenU) partnership in India.
By 2030, in India YuWaah aims to:
Build pathways to aspirational socio-economic opportunities for 100 million young people.
Facilitate 200 million young people to gain relevant skills for productive lives and the future of work.
Partner with 300 million young people as change makers and create spaces for developing their leadership.
It was launched in 2019.