Trends of Female Education at Higher Levels

Abstract

Higher education is one of the most important tools for the development of any nation. This article examines the trends of female participation in higher education in Nepal. The study is based on secondary sources of data obtained from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, and the University Grants Commission. It uses descriptive and analytical methods to explore enrollment patterns across universities, level of study, ecological belt, and province. The results show a significant increase female enrollments in higher education, increasing from 247,370 in 2019/20 to 358,140 in 2023/24.  Tribhuvan University continues to dominate female enrollment, while newly established universities and specialized institutions also gradual progress. Regional differences remain noticeable, with Bagmati Province and the Hill region having the highest females' enrollments, whereas the Mountain region and Karnali Province hold up behind due to remoteness and limit institutional access. The study reveals that Nepal is shifting towards educational inclusiveness and gender equality, through challenges remain. The findings of this study further highlight female enrollments at the bachelor's and master's levels is increasing. However, in MPhil and PhD programs is still low. To encourage equitable access and sustainable progress of all academic levels as well as newly established higher education, it is necessary to implement, it is essential gender sensitive policies, scholarship programs and supportive learning environments. Overall, the study reveals positive progress of female higher education enrollments in Nepal but continued efforts are needed to ensure regional and provincial balance and gender equality in all levels of higher education.