University of Pretoria breaking barriers to empower women

The University of Pretoria is making strides to break down barriers that hinder girls from pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Their "Girls in STEM" program offers mentorship and training opportunities for young women from disadvantaged backgrounds. Doctor Rakeshnie Ramoutar-Prieschl explains that these barriers are rooted in social prejudices and stereotypes associated with these fields.

She notes that girls are often steered towards more conventional career paths such as nursing, teaching, or banking, rather than pursuing challenging subjects like science and mathematics. However, Ramoutar-Prieschl believes that there has been a positive shift over the past decade, with significant progress being made to challenge these entrenched notions.