Girls whose mothers are educated in technology opt for technical subjects

© Hollandse Hoogte / Vincent van den Hoogen
Students in secondary education are more likely to opt for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects if their parents were also educated in science and technology. Girls whose mothers had a technical education are more likely to choose those subjects at school. This is according to new research conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
In 2022, 28 percent of all boys in the fourth year of secondary education had chosen a science and technology subject cluster. Among girls, this share was 10 percent. These percentages differed according to the type of education. However, boys in all types of education were much more likely to be choosing science and technology subjects than girls.

Science and technology subject cluster, by type of education of student
OnderwijssoortBoys (% in the fourth year)Girls (% in the fourth year)
Total2810
Vmbo bb/kb415
Vmbo gl/tl245
Havo187
Vwo3722

Girls whose mother completed a technical education more likely to choose technical subjects

Students whose parents had a technical education were more likely to choose STEM subjects than students whose parents did not have a technical education. Among girls, this is particularly true for those whose mothers were educated in science and technology: 21 percent of them opted for technical subjects in secondary school, compared to 10 percent of girls whose mothers had no technical education. Among boys this was 40 percent and 28 percent, respectively.

The father's educational background also influences whether children choose a STEM subject cluster. Students whose father was technically educated were more likely to choose science and technology subjects than students whose fathers did not have a technical education. This was the same for boys as for girls. These figures hardly change when background characteristics are taken into account, such as family composition, the type of education and the school at which the student is enrolled.

Science and technology subject cluster, by type of education of parents
OuderOnderwijsrichting oudersBoys (% in the fourth year)Girls (% in the fourth year)
FatherTechnical3614
FatherNon-technical2510
MotherTechnical4021
MotherNon-technical2810

Education level of parents influences choice for technical profile

Girls with parents who completed college or university education were more likely to study STEM subjects than other girls. This was not the case for boys: regardless of their parents' level of education, they were just as likely to study science and technology. However, when background characteristics such as family composition, type of education and the school where the student is enrolled are taken into account, it was found that the parents’ level of educational has the same degree of influence on girls as it has on boys.

Technical subjects, by parents' level of education
OuderOnderwijsniveau oudersBoys (% in the fourth year)Girls (% in the fourth year)
Fatherprimary education, vmbo, mbo1306
Fatherhavo, vwo, mbo2-4288
Fathertertiary education2814
Motherprimary education, vmbo, mbo1307
Motherhavo, vwo, mbo2-4287
Mothertertiary education2814

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