West Bengal's newly launched centralized undergraduate admissions portal witnessed a significant trend – more female applicants than males. The portal, which opened on June 24 for admissions to 461 colleges and 16 universities, closed on July 6 after receiving 5,27,673 validated applications.
A higher education department official revealed a breakdown of the applicants, stating that a remarkable 2,99,800 were women, surpassing the number of male applicants. This marks a positive development in the state's educational landscape.
The portal, a first-time initiative by the department, also saw participation from the LGBTQ+ community, with 50 applicants categorized as "others." Notably, a significant number of applications, 34,64,918, were filed, with 98,089 coming from outside West Bengal.
Reacting to the trend, Siuli Sarkar, Principal of Lady Brabourne College, expressed optimism. "It has been a trend in recent times that more girls are opting for higher education,” she remarked, as quoted by Edex Live. However, she acknowledged a persistent societal mindset where some guardians believe boys are better suited for technical and science-oriented disciplines while girls should pursue general streams.
Despite this traditional view, Sarkar emphasized that girls increasingly challenge these norms and carve their own paths to success in various fields. She further revealed that Lady Brabourne College received around 15,000 applications from girls for undergraduate courses across different streams.
This surge in female applicants for West Bengal's undergraduate admissions signifies a positive shift towards gender equality in education. While societal biases may still linger, the rising number of female applicants suggests a promising future for women's empowerment in the state.