Whereas the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) starts, but in reality, women and girls are far away to get the fair opportunity of quality education where the science, technology and innovation learning can lead them to compete with the male for the leadership role and decision-making position.
It is prevailing every place from the grassroots level to corporate organizations. Reduce the gender gap and inequality; it is time to gender parity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, more women in politics, advocacy and entrepreneurship to raise the voice of their needs as equal part of a society to contribute the economic development.
Careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are considered the jobs of the future, with the European Parliament forecasting around 7 million new STEM jobs by 2025 in Europe alone. To fill these jobs and keep pushing the boundaries of what has been thought possible in STEM, both girls and boys, women and men need equal access to STEM education and careers.
The world employment trend is changing so fast with this Information Age, and according to the World Economic Forum, almost 90 percent of future jobs will require a form of information and communication technology skills. The future jobs will drive by technology and innovation where STEM education is necessary for girls to cope up with the rapidly changing workforce trend.
Women education and empowerment has been improved worldwide remarkably in developing counties; unfortunately, the ratio of girls participation in STEM education and skills-based programs are deficient, where half of the population are women in the world, and they have same right to take their own decision to participate in the world economy and sustainable growth.
The UNESCO report
According to the UNESCO report, only 3% of ICT graduates are women globally, and 35% of STEM students in higher education are female. An estimated 2.5 million new engineers needed in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the SDG 6 target of improving sanitation and clean water for health and wellbeing, there will be 7 million new STEM jobs open in Europe by 2025 and the global future job trends driving the innovation and sustainable development, which specify the STEM study is one of the critical elements.
Easy access to finance, reduce violence against women, ensure the quality of life for children and women, the world needs more women in the leading role in raising their voice and taking action for a better solution.
Power and poverty correlated, wherein a male-dominated society the gender role affects a person’s right to access and control the resources. Inequality, injustice, and discrimination are crucial causes of poverty worldwide, and women suffer the most in all stage of their life.
To end poverty and achieve the Global Goals by 2030, we have to reduce the gender gap in all sectors and assure the quality of education for girls. Where they can take their own decision about climate change, create their position in innovation and technology industry, make their personal political choice and most importantly right to lead a modest life in their own decision.
In this International Women’s Day pledge to stop violence against women, ensure access the power equally and open the door to prosperity for our girls who will make the world a better place for living along with their male co-workers.
