Financial constraints often stand as a major barrier for girls in India to pursue education, especially in STEM disciplines. To address this, AISECT in collaboration with Sattva Knowledge Institute (SKI) hosted a webinar “Unlocking Potential: Financial Aid as a Catalyst for Girls’ STEM Success”.
This webinar brought together key stakeholders to explore innovative financial support models and their transformative impact. AISECT and SKI also released a detailed report entitled “Unlocking Potential: Financial Aid as a Catalyst for Girls’ STEM Success”. The report delves deep into how targeted financial interventions such as, scholarships, conditional cash transfers, and mentorship-linked aid, all of which are crucial in enabling equitable access and retention of girls in STEM education. Drawing insights from the report, the discussions highlighted the need for scalable, evidence-backed strategies that can help bridge the gender gap in STEM careers in India.
Read the full report: Unlocking Potential: Financial Aid as a Catalyst for Girls’ STEM Success
Webinar panel insights and perspectives
The webinar featured prominent voices who shared their perspectives on improving access to STEM education for girls in India:
- Mr. Yogesh Bhat, Co-founder and SVP, Masai School
- Ms. Seema Kumar, Director Programs, Smile Foundation
- Ms. Shilpi Varshney, Director Projects, AISECT
- Mr. Jigna Nawani, Senior Program Director, Piramal Foundation
- Moderator: Mr. Arjun Bahadur, Principal, Sattva Consulting
The deliberations addressed multiple barriers to STEM education for girls, extending beyond tuition fees to include costs like transport, coaching, and digital tools. It also underscored the importance of broadening career awareness, as many girls still associate STEM with limited fields such as engineering and medicine. Another important discussion point was how exposure to diverse career options and skill-based learning could make STEM more accessible. Community-level support and long-term, result-based funding were also noted as key to improving retention and enabling systemic change.
Dr. Shweta Gaur, Principal Researcher at Sattva Consulting, noted, “STEM education challenges are not limited to tuition fees. From study materials and transport to coaching and lab access, the total cost is far beyond the reach of many families. To close the gender gap, we must adopt holistic and sustained solutions that go beyond one-time scholarships.”
Systemic barriers to Girls’ STEM participation
The AISECT-SKI report “Unlocking Potential: Financial Aid as a Catalyst for Girls’ STEM Success” is based on research conducted across four states—Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Punjab. It draws from surveys of 4,763 girls in government schools and insights from educators, parents, policymakers, and STEM professionals.
Key findings from the report include:
- 59% of girls identify financial constraints as the primary reason for discontinuing science education after secondary school.
- Only 39% of girls opt for science at the higher secondary level, with the number falling below 25% in some surveyed states.
- Despite ₹652 crores allocated across 143 government scholarship schemes, more than half the funds remain underutilized, owing to low awareness, complex procedures, and rigid eligibility norms.
- Only 13% of surveyed schools had female science teachers, limiting exposure to relatable role models and mentors. And 71% of surveyed schools offer science, but far fewer are equipped with labs and computers.
- STEM aspiration levels among girls dropped sharply during the transition from Class 10 to 12, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“As an organization deeply rooted in the mission of empowering rural India through education and skilling, we initiated this research to understand why so many girls are dropping off the STEM track,” said Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, Director, AISECT. “Financial constraints remain a silent barrier, even as policy and discourse move towards gender equity. This report provides a roadmap for targeted, need-based interventions that can make STEM education more accessible and equitable,” he added.
A persona-based financial aid model
One of the most compelling contributions of the report pertains to the persona-based financial aid model, categorizing girls into four profiles:
- Trailblazers: High-performing and highly motivated
- Sustainers: Motivated but lack strong external support
- Aspirers: Interested but unsure about STEM pathways
- Disengaged: Facing multiple barriers, including low confidence and poor academic performance
Each persona requires tailored interventions, including academic coaching, digital access, financial incentives, and career counselling. The report estimates an annual investment of ₹22,000 to ₹1,50,000 per girl, based on her profile and context.
Actionable recommendations for stakeholders
The report and panel discussions outline a roadmap for scalable and sustainable impact:
- Simplify and digitize scholarship applications, especially for rural beneficiaries.
- Run awareness campaigns involving parents, school staff, and communities.
- Recruit and train more female science and math teachers.
- Promote alternative STEM pathways, including vocational and digital skilling programs.
- Encourage industry partnerships for mentorship, internships, and role model engagement.
Also read: Navonmesh 2025: Igniting innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity
Mr. Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder of Sattva, stressed the importance of result-based funding and leveraging technology to scale financial aid and career awareness. He also called for increased industry involvement in mentorship and teacher development programs to address the shortage of female educators in science.
AISECT and Sattva are calling upon state and national education bodies, CSR leaders, and philanthropic organizations to reimagine financial aid frameworks and make them more responsive, accessible, and impactful. As STEM continues to shape the future of work, ensuring that girls are not left behind is not just a gender equality issue, it is central to India’s inclusive development.
