Encouraging Results being registered in raising Female Enrollment in Educaion

Addis Ababa, April 14(ENA)-- The marked growth in the number of females attending higher learning institutions was encouraging, State Minister of Women's' Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister said.

Gifti Aba Siyya said female enrolment in degree programs at state-owned learning institutions has grown from 7 per cent in 1995 to 14 per cent now.

The State Minister in diploma programs the figure has risen from 13 per cent that same year to 24 per cent, showing an 11 per cent growth.

She was addressing a three-day consultative meeting on the participation of women in higher education that opened here on Monday.

However, she said, there is still a continuing gap between male-female enrollment in higher learning institutions.

She called on governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as the public at large to exert concerted efforts to bridge the gap.

Education Minister, Genet Zewdie said on the occasion that the education policy has given due attention to female enrollment in education.

Raising the number of female instructors in both primary and secondary academic institutions would be instrumental in increasing female enrollment in education, the minister noted.

Teachers and educators drawn from the various regions in the country are attending the three-day consultative meeting.

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