Enrolment in higher education: Girls outnumber boys at Postgraduate and M Phil level, but way behind in PhD enrolment in northeast

Enrolment of girls (18-23 years) in higher education has increased steadily throughout the country. However, enrolment of girls in PhD programme is significantly low, according to statistics of All India Higher Education Survey 2017-18. The survey also reveals a similar picture in Northeast region.

In 2016-17 enrolment of girls in different disciplines at Post Graduate level was significantly higher with 22,23,239 girls enrolled in different disciplines in Masters program against 18,91,071 boys. In 2015-16 the figures were 20,98,713 girls against 18,18,443 boys.

Till 2012-13, number of girls enrolled in post graduate level were less (16,79,050) compared to boys (17,69,101). It was in 2013-14, the girls (19,33,582) surpassed the boys (18,88,637) in Post Graduate level enrolment.

Among north-eastern states too, Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim recorded enrolment of more girls in different streams of Post Graduation studies. Altogether 39081 female enrolled in Post Graduation programme during 2016-17 against 38,765 males in all north-eastern states.

Enrolment in Postgraduation Programme 2016-17

In M Phil programme too, number of girls enrolled in different disciplines was higher than the boys. Al all India level, 21,822 females enrolled in different disciplines against 12,287 males during 2016-17. In 2015-16 the figures were 25, 050 girls against 17, 473 boys. During the year 2015-16 the enrolment of female in this programme was 25, 050 against 17,473 males. Enrolment of females in M Phil programme remains constantly higher since 2012-13 in comparison to male.

Altogether 439 females enrolled in M Phil programme during 2016-17 against 367 males in all north-eastern states,. During this year enrolment of female was higher in all the states except Tripura.

Enrolment in MPhil Programme 2016-17

However, in PhD Programme, enrolment of females candidate was significantly low with 68,842 females enrolled against 92,570 males during 2016-17. During the year 2015-16 the enrolment of female was 51,904 against 74,547 male. Enrolment of females in PhD programme remains constantly lower since 2012-13 in comparison to male.

Altogether 3372 females enrolled in Ph D programme during 2016-17 against 4,549 males in all northeastern states. During this year enrolment of female was higher in all the states except Tripura. During this year, among the north-eastern states only Meghalaya recorded higher number of female PhD students with 513, against 466 male candidates.

Enrolment in PhD Programme 2016-17

Source : All India Higher Education Survey 2017-18