Women's achievement surpasses men's in educational attainment

 

Women’s achievement has surpassed men’s in the Educational Attainment sub-index of the Malaysia Gender Gap Index (MGGI) with a score of 1.060.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in a statement today said the gross enrolment rates for women at the primary and secondary levels were higher than men at 98.4 percent and 94.5 percent compared to 98.1 percent and 90.6 percent, respectively.

Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin in the statement issued in conjunction with the Yayasan Tuanku Fauziah (YTF) webinar on “Women In Search Of Excellence”, said at the tertiary level, the gross enrolment rate for women was 46.9 percent, which was still higher than the men’s 33.3 percent.

However, he said the labour force participation rate for women was still low which is at 55.5 percent compared to the target of 59 percent in 2025 based on the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

Meanwhile, in terms of economic participation in 2021, women recorded 76.6 percent in the service sector and 15.1 percent in the manufacturing sector.

“Only a small number of them work in the mining and quarrying sector. In terms of mean monthly salaries and wages received by women, it has also increased to RM2,968 in 2021 from RM2,899 in 2020,” the statement said.

It also said that women's representation in sociopolitics was also challenged with the lowest score of 0.100, hence proving that women were still lagging behind men in holding the office of ministers and MPs.

The webinar was graced by Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail.

- Bernama