Speaker
Description
Girls’ education and STEM participation in Zambia face persistent structural, socio-cultural, and institutional barriers. Although gender parity exists at the primary level (1.03), girls’ representation declines at secondary school (0.94 in 2020), with completion rates as low as 26.5–26.7% in some provinces. High teenage pregnancy, 27.6% nationally, reaching 36.2% in rural areas and 43% in Southern provinces along with poverty, early marriage, and gendered social norms, contributes to school dropout and perpetuates cycles of intergenerational poverty. These challenges extend into higher education, where female enrolment in STEM is markedly low: in 2020, women comprised only 33.8% of natural resources students, 17.8% in technology, and 32.1% in mathematics and natural sciences. Limited role models, inadequate infrastructure, low awareness of STEM careers, and insufficient science communication further restrict girls’ engagement and aspirations. Addressing these barriers through mentorship, community outreach, effective science communication, and targeted initiatives including support from larger bodies is critical to promoting gender equity and increasing women’s representation in Zambia’s STEM workforce.
| Stream | Education, Development and Outreach |
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