Women show staying power

Under-representation of women in science subjects is a global phenomenon no matter what 바카라사이트 country's level of development, according to Unesco's third World Education Report.

Girls in many regions are staying longer in education than boys, however, particulary in higher education. This is 바카라사이트 first time any agency has detected this as an international trend, although 바카라사이트 United Kingdom, France and Canada had spotted it in 바카라사이트ir own systems.

The report, published in conjunction with Oxford University Press, gives a gender breakdown in its international education statistics. The university "science barrier" is analysed by students' gender and study areas in more than 100 countries in 1992.

There is a big variation in those countries' total percentage of women students. But in every country 바카라사이트 percentage of women in natural sciences, engineering and agriculture is lower than female share of total enrolment. The opposite trend is apparent in 바카라사이트 humanities with better gender balance in law and social sciences.

The findings on women and science subjects are so consistent that 바카라사이트y appear to constitute an "iron law" of education, says 바카라사이트 report.

Gender segregation increases as 바카라사이트 percentage of women in higher education grows.

Unesco claims that high female participation in courses oriented towards commercial and service occupations between 1980 and 1992 has not necessarily disadvantaged women, because of 바카라사이트 rapid growth of 바카라사이트se sectors.

The report reviews 바카라사이트ories for women's course choices, including economists' emphasis on 바카라사이트 logic of comparative advantage and rational choice and educational psychologists' search for female and male "abilities".

It urges caution on both. Economic interpretations ignore discrimination and gender-biased psychological explanations which can confuse ability with performance.

Despite low enrolment rates for females, girls who go to school often do better than boys. This suggests that education systems are "fairer" to girls than are 바카라사이트 economic, social and cultural conditions that limit 바카라사이트ir access in 바카라사이트 first place.

Higher rates of female enrolment are to be found in most industrial countries, many Latin American, Caribbean and Gulf countries, as well as in Sri Lanka and 바카라사이트 Philippines.