Although U.K. girls are faring well in sciences than boys, only a few of them are taking up these courses in universities, according to statistics published by education and publishing company Pearson.
The figures released by the company show that only 5 per cent of B tech Level 2 engineering students and 4 per cent of Level 3 students represented the female sex.
Highlighting their performance in science courses, in 2012-13, about 37 per cent of girls achieved a distinction in the Level 2 engineering compared to 20 per cent of boys. In the IT department, 31 per cent of girls attained a distinction than 21 per cent of boys.
Only fewer girls registered for the advance qualification, with 38 per cent at Level 2 and 18 per cent at Level 3.
"We know STEM skills are crucial to the high-skills economy we will need in the future. Too often these are seen as 'boys' subjects - today's figures show that, when girls do sign up to these vital subjects, they flourish," Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK, said.
Previous studies on gender imbalances also revealed a similar problem.
A study conducted by London Economics disclosed that only 38 per cent of boys pursuing B.tech study the same subject at university, while only 1.4 per cent of girls took up the subject.
"This is something educators, business and government all need to work on and put right," Bristow said.
Labour MP Andrew Miller, chair of the committee, urged analysts and scholars to find out the reason behind the gender imbalance in STEM subjects.
"I would like to find out why girls with science qualifications are not following through into science, technology, engineering and maths careers. This is not a matter of seeking a gender balance in science but to ensure that we are getting the fullest use of available talent in what is going to become an increasingly technology and science-based economy."
