Gender Parity of Science Students in Covenant University

Science is the key to technological and economic development of a society. Over time, science field has been a male dominated branch of study. Advancing women equality in this field of study will influence the world’s economy positively. Assessment of gender parity index in tertiary institutions is a tool that will enable the recruitment of female students into the sciences. Ten (10) years of undergraduate and five (5) years of postgraduate students data of Covenant University were used for this study. It was observed that more female opted for biological sciences. The total number of female science students was found to range from 5.0-14.8 %, 6.5-36.7 % and 9.1-50.0 % for first, second and doctorate degree respectively. The result showed 90 % disparity in favour of males for science undergraduate students, 40 % disparity for masters and 90 % for doctorates’ students. Strategies to win more female into the sciences should be encourage