Source: Tanzania Daily News
THE number of female students majoring in science and technology related subjects in colleges remain low due to gender stereotypes.

The Principal of Kibaha Folk Development College (KFDC) Mr Kachingwe Kaselenge said that most girls were not ready to specialize in science related subjects due to discouraging negative attitude.

He said girls were interested in the courses related to their stereotypical roles in their communities such as tailoring, catering and hotel management as well as animal husbandry and agriculture.

"The gender roles in our communities are affecting the participation of women in science related courses as experienced in this college where science subjects are associated with masculinity," he said.

Statistics show that out of 64 first year female students, only 14 were taking science related subjects offered by the college which are welding, construction and electronics. The same situation exists in the second year class where 14 out of all 65 female students major in science subjects and the rest being in the female gender stereotypical courses.

Mr Kaselenge said that more education is needed to change people's attitudes especially among rural communities which perceive science, electronics and machinery as belonging to men. He said his college had been conducting awareness programmes at the district level to parents and students before admission to encourage more girls to join science courses saying that girls always did well in science courses.

A first year student Eva Nicholaus who studies livestock and agriculture said that her option had been based on the daily economic activities performed by most girls in her society. She looks at the science related subjects as belonging to men "I think men are the ones to do activities such as welding and electronics because these tasks are not associated to girls," she said.

The statistics also show that the college receives a big number of male students compared to female students. It is currently comprise a total of 431 students of which 129 are girls and 302 are boys. Stephen who majors in electronics said that his choice had been based on the advice by parents and his interest in the other course.

Go to top