Image used for representational purpose

KOCHI: Women outnumber men in undergraduate and post-graduate courses in city colleges. In almost all undergraduate courses (UG), more than 75% seats are occupied by women while in postgraduate (PG) courses women account for up to 85% seats, according to enrolment figures in city colleges. The percentage of girl students who are pursuing research in various streams is even higher. More than 95% seats are occupied by them.

Take the case of St Albert’s College, which was once a men’s only college. But since it started admitting women, the number of females getting enrolled in the college has steadily increased. Now, they account for more than 80% seats in all UG and PG courses.

In 2015, the number of women and men stood at 1,364 and 879, respectively. It increased to 1,513 and 1,036 respectively in 2016. In 2017, the number of men reduced to 1,011 while that of girls increased to 1,590.

The trend continued in 2018 with 1,748 women getting enrolled in the college while it drew only 935 men. This year too, the situation is no different.

The situation is not different in other colleges as well. In SH College, about 75% UG seats and 85% PG seats are occupied by women.

Lack of job opportunities for those who pursue higher studies in general courses is said to be the main reason. “Men prefer skill-based courses, which would easily earn a job for them,” said Fr Prashant, principal, SH College.

Though educationists admit that women outnumber men in under graduation and graduation courses, they are clueless about the reason. SH College is planning to conduct a study on why men are not joining graduation courses. A proposal is being prepared to be submitted to the UGC.

Educationists fear it can lead to a gender imbalance in the education system as well as teaching sector. They pointed out men fail to make it to merit list as women often score higher marks in Class XII.

“One of the main reason for the gender imbalance is that merit-based admission counts only percentage of marks secured by students in their previous courses. Also, men prefer colleges outside Kerala . Also, men maybe finding today’s higher education system less challenging for them. It may change if we introduce experiential learning,” said ML Joseph, principal, St Albert’s College.

Agreeing that a similar trend is visible in the Maharaja’s College, educationist and chairman of the autonomous committee in the college, C Ravindran said the declining number of male postgraduates, means fewer male teachers. “But on the positive side, the competency of women is increasing as they are taking up more challenging roles in academics,” he said.

