COMPARISON OF EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AGRICULTURE STUDENTS BY GENDER AT UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, FAISALABAD-PAKISTAN

Abstract

The research based on cross-sectional data was conducted to develop a comprehensive characterization of the situation of students in higher education. In this regard, analysis of differences in various gender-related socio-economic characteristics was conducted that may motivate future systematic annual analysis of tertiary education demographics. To address the purpose of the study, first of all, the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad was purposively selected as a study population. Next, primary data was collected through well designed and pretested questionnaire from randomly selected 185 total students of second semester during under-graduate academic session 2019-20. Descriptive statistics show that traditional opinion of rural-male centered agricultural education was no more present because now 40% of student body was coming from urban areas as well as enrollment of female students in agricultural sciences was also increasing. Results further show that in many aspects females enjoy near parity with males. Female students were comparatively spending less on food and mobile-related items during studies despite their higher income family status. Even female students were significantly surpassing males based on the previous school, college and first semester examinations. Comparatively higher proportion of females planning to continue agricultural education up to Ph.D implies that gender disparity in agricultural education is diminishing. Given forthcoming changes in the agrarian economy of Pakistan and the country being signatory to sustainable development goals, it is suggested that the government should enhance safe pick and drop facilities particularly to females to lessen disparities in agricultural education. Similarly, more job placements should be arranged to absorb forthcoming agriculture graduates in the market. Finally, large sample-based studies on finding the statistical relationships among socio-economic characteristics of agriculture graduates is also suggested to give input for the development of the agriculture sector of the country.