1/3rd of colleges are for girls but enrolment below national average

JAIPUR: Every third college in Rajasthan is reserved only for women making it a state with the highest density of colleges and universities for females.
The state has a total of 469 institutes of higher education, including three universities. Despite the high number of institutes, the gross enrollment ratio (GER) of girls in the higher education is 20.6% way below the national average of 25.4% GER for girls, as per the AISHE 2018 report. The overall GER of state was 22.7%, while the national average was 25.8%.
The norm of only girls’ colleges started since the formal education was introduced in the country. However, with time most of the states have stopped opening schools and colleges for only girls. The trend however continues in Rajasthan. Experts said that purpose of only girls institutes was to encourage parents to send them for studies.
"The goal post of opening only girls education centres was to simply introduced them to the formal education. Now, the purpose of the majority of the girls enrolling in the higher education institutes is venture out in different career streams. Thus it is required to sensitize them towards gender neutrality," said KB Kothari, an educationist.
Rajasthan is also the state with has three dedicated universities for girls. It is interesting to note that two more dedicated only girls universities are in the pipeline along a dozen colleges. It makes the density of only girls colleges among the highest in the country. "The educationists are investing in girls education to tap the growing market. State has immense potential in these areas. Even if the enrollment of girls increases by one percent in a population of 18-23, it would require almost 20 new colleges," said Rahul Singhi, director of a private group of colleges.
State lost miserably to the gender parity index also as for every 100 boys enrolled in the higher educational institutes, it has 91 girls. The national average in the same category was 97 girls against 100 boys. Girls have superseded boys at all degree levels—PhD, M Phil and PG level, while they are lagging behind at UG level.
Rashmi Jain, vice principal of Maharani's College said, “The number of only girls’ institutes are coming up means that parents are allowing them to study in higher education institutes. This is first phase of the change. The second phase of the change will be when parents will be comfortable them sending to co-ed institutes.