French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne aims to boost female representation in the mathematics field, seeking 50% of female students by the year 2030.
French Government Aims to Boost Girl's Presence in Math, Engineering, and Digital Fields
Elisabeth Borne isexecuting a strategic plan to boost the participation of women in mathematical and scientific disciplines by 2030, particularly in areas such as engineering and digital fields. In a recent interview, she underscored the importance of fortifying women's roles in these domains.
Currently, women are inadequately represented in scientific subjects at the high school level, with paltry numbers in engineering (15%), computer science (15%), physical education (32%), mathematics (42%), and physics-chemistry (47%). In a bid to tilt the balance, the government proposes encouraging more girls to choose and persist with mathematical specialties.
Aiming for 20% Girls in Each Scientific Preparatory Class
A preliminary move of 5,000 additional girls is to be facilitated in the upcoming academic year. Borne also supports the objective proposed by a government report suggesting a minimum of 20% girls in every scientific preparatory class by 2026 and 30% by 2030.
While the concept of quotas isn't explicitly used, the High Council for Equality has previously recommended imposing 50% girls in mathematical, physics, and digital specialties, and at least 30% in NSI (digital and computer science).
Sensitize and Educate Teachers
A primary component of the "Girls and Math" initiative announced by Borne is the commitment to sensitize and train all teachers from primary through high school by 2025. This encompasses ensuring that girls are regularly encouraged to participate in class, even if they don't initiate discourse.
While specific French government strategies to increase girl's involvement in scientific and mathematical disciplines may not be readily apparent, initiatives like Technovation, UNESCO projects supporting women and girls in STEM, collaborations between UNESCO and the EU, free academic courses focusing on writing and reading, and Germany's "Komm, mach MINT" can serve as potential models or inspirations. It's crucial to delve deeper into French government announcements and initiatives to glean more insight into their strategies for promoting STEM education among girls.
Elisabeth Borne recommends raising the participation of girls in science education and self-development subjects like mathematics, physics, and digital fields by 2025, with a goal of 20% girls in every scientific preparatory class by 2026 and 30% by 2030. To achieve this, Borne plans to sensitize and educate teachers from primary to high school by 2025, ensuring that they encourage girls to actively participate in class. This initiative, named "Girls and Math", also looks to models like Technovation, UNESCO projects, EU collaborations, free academic courses, and Germany's "Komm, mach MINT" for inspiration in increasing girl's involvement in STEM education.
