Factors discouraging participation of girls in ICT education

Despite expanding ICT job opportunities, there has been a decrease in the proportion of girls entering into ICT study, and pursuing ICT careers. This paper explores factors that discourage participation of high school girls in ICT using a modified version of the conceptual framework based on the 'STEMcell' model. The modified framework was used to create an online questionnaire which gathered data from girls and boys between the ages of 15 and 17 years studying at high school. Each section of the framework used selected questions based on perceptions and attitudes to gain an insight into whether girls would be more likely to participate in ICT. The findings indicated that boys, more than girls sought advice from their family members on their future career choices. The results also showed stereotypes are still alive in girls more than boys and that girls are unlikely to follow a career in ICT. Moreover, girls more than boys disagree about ICT becoming compulsory in high school. Current number of enrolments of girls in ICT at high school lags behind that of boys and, until changes are made, girls going into the ICT industry will be in the minority.