Two-thirds of illiterate adults are women, who are generally the caretakers of the family. This lack of education thus has an impact on both the children and the family as a whole. This explains why education plays an important role in ensuring gender equality in developing countries such as South Africa. This study discusses the influence education has in bridging the gender gap. The findings of this case study, conducted in South Africa, demonstrates the interrelationship between gender and culture and its impact on higher education institution gender parity outcomes. Since 1994, South African higher education enrolment has increased and the number of women entering the higher education environment is on a par with the gender goals in the region. Relative to existing literature, the targets set in the South African National Plan for Higher Education (2001) for Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) have therefore been achieved, although Social Science, Humanities and Education enrolments remain higher. Using a qualitative methodology, this study will seek to address the question as to why there is a grave need to increase the number of young women within SET sectors in higher education. While there has been a move to address this, the changes have been erratic and unsubstantial. The study will attempt to explain why there have been no significant changes in this important issue.

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