KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — Women’s achievement has surpassed men’s in the Educational Attainment sub-index of the Malaysia Gender Gap Index (MGGI) with a score of 1.060.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in a statement today said the gross enrolment rates for women at the primary and secondary levels were higher than men at 98.4 per cent and 94.5 per cent compared to 98.1 per cent and 90.6 per cent, respectively.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin in the statement issued in conjunction with the Yayasan Tuanku Fauziah (YTF) webinar on “Women In Search Of Excellence”, said at the tertiary level, the gross enrolment rate for women was 46.9 per cent, which was still higher than the men’s 33.3 per cent.
However, he said the labour force participation rate for women was still low which is at 55.5 per cent compared to the target of 59 per cent in 2025 based on the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
Meanwhile, in terms of economic participation in 2021, women recorded 76.6 per cent in the service sector and 15.1 per cent in the manufacturing sector.
“Only a small number of them work in the mining and quarrying sector. In terms of mean monthly salaries and wages received by women, it has also increased to RM2,968 in 2021 from RM2,899 in 2020,” the statement said.
It also said that women’s representation in sociopolitics was also challenged with the lowest score of 0.100, hence proving that women were still lagging behind men in holding the office of ministers and Members of Parliament.
The webinar was graced by the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail.
— Bernama
