WILLEMSTAD - Women are excelling at the university level, according to statistics from the University of Curaçao (UoC). The data shows that 74 percent of graduates are women, a trend that has remained consistent in recent years.
In 2024, 182 women received their degrees, compared to just 58 men. According to UoC, both social and cultural factors contribute to this "gender gap."
Nicole Trinidad, UoC's communications and public relations officer, explained the university's position. She noted that one of the reasons lies in the way boys and girls are raised in the community.
There is a strong expectation that boys must enter the workforce and become economically active earlier, while girls are more encouraged to pursue education and become independent later in life.
Prioritization
In Curaçao, many boys leave school early to start working, often in jobs that require little education. For them, education is not seen as a priority.
Trinidad also referred to a study titled The Boy Problem, conducted in collaboration with UNESCO and the Ministry of Education of Curaçao.
This research focused on why boys lag behind in education, not only in Curaçao but also on other islands in the Antilles.
The study found that in many families in Curaçao, boys are expected to contribute to household expenses. This often leads to early school dropout, which negatively impacts their academic performance.
Associate Degrees
The UoC acknowledges this issue and is working to encourage boys to continue their education. In collaboration with other universities in the Netherlands, UoC is exploring new educational models, such as the introduction of associate degrees. These programs provide young people with lower-level access to higher education, making the transition easier for boys.
There are also discussions about offering more facilities for male students pursuing teaching degrees. The aim is to increase the number of male teachers in education, which could help reduce the gender gap in academic performance.