From school to postgraduate studies, girls are excelling and leading academics, reshaping the future of education

A recently released report reveals that, across the entire spectrum from school education to postgraduate studies, girls are now outpacing boys in academics. Let’s delve into the full details…

The disparity that has been a subject of discussion for years now appears to be gradually narrowing. In the realm of education, girls are no longer lagging behind; in fact, in many areas, they have surged ahead. From the school level right up to postgraduate studies—whether in terms of enrollment figures or the number of students passing examinations—girls are now seen to outnumber boys.

The National Statistical Office (NSO) report, titled ‘Women and Men in India 2025,’ indicates that a new generation is scripting a transformative narrative in the field of education. While sending girls to school was once considered a challenge in itself, they are now establishing a strong presence at every single level of academic pursuit.

From Parity to Leadership in Schools

According to the report, girls’ enrollment figures—spanning from the primary to the higher secondary levels—exceed those of boys. This signifies that, within schools, girls now hold the numerical advantage as well. This shift has become even more pronounced following the implementation of the New Education Policy. From the foundational stage through to the secondary level, the presence of girls has increased at every single step.

It is not merely enrollment that has seen improvement; the school dropout rate has also declined. A noticeable drop in dropout rates was observed between the years 2022-23 and 2024-25. Girls, in particular, have demonstrated superior performance in continuing their education at the middle and preparatory levels. Although some students continue to drop out at the secondary level, the overall situation has improved significantly compared to the past.

A Generational Shift in Literacy

In terms of overall literacy across the country, a gap of approximately 14 percent still persists between men and women. However, among the youth demographic aged 15 to 24 years, this disparity has narrowed down to a mere 3.8 percent. This clearly demonstrates that, within the new generation, girls are making rapid strides forward. While female literacy stood at a mere 30.6 percent in 1981, it has now surpassed the 70 percent mark.

Increasing Participation in Higher Education

The landscape is shifting at the college and university levels as well. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for girls in higher education has risen to 30.2 percent, while that for boys stands at 28.9 percent. This implies that the number of girls enrolling in college is now higher. Reports indicate that women constitute 51.48 percent of all students who successfully complete their studies.

A particularly noteworthy point is that at advanced levels—such as the M.Phil.—female students make up 76 percent of the cohort. Female students also account for more than half of the enrollments at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. However, while participation in education has increased, disparities remain evident in the choice of academic disciplines. Girls are predominantly concentrated in the fields of Arts, Science, Social Sciences, and Medicine; conversely, boys continue to outnumber girls in Engineering, Technology, IT, and Management.

Disparities in Years of Schooling and Expenditure

Another interesting fact has come to light. The average duration of schooling for women is 7.4 years, whereas the national average stands at 8.4 years. This suggests that many girls still tend to discontinue their education prematurely. In terms of expenditure, an average of ₹13,901 is spent annually on the education of boys, compared to ₹12,101 for girls.