Gender Differences in Access to Higher Education in Colombia (2001-2019)

Abstract

Access to higher education for women and men is one of the factors related to social mobility, equity and improved opportunities around the world which contributes to achieving gender equality. This research paper aims to estimate the differences by gender in the probability of access to higher education in Colombia, in the period from 2001 to 2019. The analysis is conducted with the estimation of multinomial probit models of discrete choice with correction for selection bias sample, using data from the Gran Encuesta Integrada de Hogares conducted by the Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (dane). The results show that the choice to access higher education for all individuals is not random or equal, due to factors related to the personal, family, economic and social characteristics of each individual. This conditions access opportunities and harms some social groups, especially those who cannot obtain a high school degree in the first stage. In addition, the probability of access to higher education for all young people remains low, on average 50 %, in line with a gross coverage rate of higher education of 52 % during 2018. On the other hand, for the first year, be Women increase the probability of access by 1 percentage point, for the second year 1,67 percentage points, for the third year 1,39 and for the fourth year 2,19 percentage points. These results to the analysis to improve educational opportunities in a country with high levels of social inequality and a discussion on higher education policy.