Too poor for Science? 59% of girls abandon STEM dreams due to financial constraints, reveals new study

As many as 59 per cent of girls have cited financial constraints as the first purpose for not pursuing STEM schooling past secondary college, in accordance to a modern report launched on April 25.

The study, ‘Unlocking Potential: Financial Aid as a Catalyst for Girl’s STEM Success’ carried out by Sattva Consulting in collaboration with AISECT, highlights how the excessive price of science schooling, restricted scholarship accessibility, and lack of feminine function fashions are stopping thousands and thousands of girls in India from coming into STEM fields.

STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

The study, launched over a webinar on April 25, employed a mixed-methods analysis method, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to perceive the financial limitations stopping girls from pursuing STEM schooling. As many as 4,763 girls from authorities colleges throughout 4 states—Rajasthan, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh have been surveyed for the study.

Sattva Consulting is a worldwide affect consulting agency, whereas AISECT is a social enterprise that has been driving talent improvement, larger schooling, financial inclusion, and e-governance in semi-urban and rural areas.

The findings are additionally based mostly on interviews with lecturers, mother and father, college principals, STEM consultants, and policymakers to assess the broader systemic challenges.

Despite 80 per cent of future jobs requiring STEM expertise, solely 39 per cent of girls graduate from larger secondary schooling in science disciplines. The report highlights stark regional disparities, with over 60 per cent of girls in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh opting for STEM topics, whereas in states like Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jharkhand, participation stays critically low at lower than 25 per cent.

Gender equality in schooling

Owing to the low share of girls passing grade twelfth in science streams, these states have been chosen because the study space. Madhya Pradesh was the one outlier regardless of being in the same geography.

“We commissioned this report to understand better the systemic barriers preventing girls from entering STEM fields. While discussions around gender equality in education have gained momentum, financial constraints remain an overlooked challenge. By identifying key gaps, we hope this report will drive meaningful interventions that ensure STEM education is accessible for all girls,” mentioned Siddharth Chaturvedi, Director of AISECT.

Gap in scholarship utilisation

The study additionally highlights the numerous hole in scholarship utilisation. While ₹651.9 crores have been allotted throughout 143 scholarship schemes in 2023-24, about 55 per cent of funds stay unspent due to low consciousness, advanced software processes, and eligibility standards that exclude economically marginalised college students.

The report finds that the shortage of feminine function fashions in STEM additional exacerbates the difficulty, with solely 13 per cent of the surveyed colleges having feminine science lecturers. Beyond financial assist, the report factors to the absence of structured profession steering and vocational pathways for girls to enter the STEM workforce.

“STEM education is not just about tuition fees. The financial burden extends to coaching, study materials, lab access, and even transport, making it an unattainable goal for many. If we want to bridge the gender gap in STEM, we need solutions that go beyond scholarships,” mentioned Dr Shweta Gaur, Principal Researcher at Sattva Consulting.

The Solutions

Schools, policymakers, and the personal sector should work collectively to present sustained financial assist with a long-term dedication, accessible profession steering, and mentorship packages that hold girls engaged in science schooling,” Dr Gaur said.

The report urges state and national education policymakers to reassess financial aid structures and increase awareness of existing scholarships. It also highlights the role of CSR and philanthropic organisations in bridging the gap through long-term investments in vocational STEM pathways, digital skilling initiatives, and teacher training programs.

“The solution lies in rethinking the design of financial aid for girls. Funders need to double down on their efforts in the needy states, be patient funders, and invest in girls based on their needs and provide targeted, result-based funding, enabling girls to enter the STEM workforce,” mentioned Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder and Partner at Sattva Consulting, was quoted as saying within the report launch.