GENDER AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

It is an undisputable fact thatScience, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are key indices for national development. Despite considerable progress in promoting gender equality and narrowing the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education , women are still underrepresented, receive less recognition and disproportionately affected by economics, social, family and environmental stress, experience unequal rights, discrimination and violence in both developed and developing countries. More than half of human population is made up of women. It is on this premise that the role of women in national and international development becomes an issue when viewed from the lens of their participation in STEM disciplines. This paper therefore identified barriers to women participation in STEM education and also examined the extent of women participation in STEM. The paper proposes a new action plan for government in particular and the society in general through which women?s participation in STEM education can be improved.