The provided graph illustrates the trends in part-time and full-time further education over three years that are a decade apart (beginning from 1970/71) in both sexes.
Overall, it is evident that the difference between the number of women and men in full-time tertiary education had different patterns in 1990 versus 1970 and 1980. Moreover, the change in the popularity of part-time education over the years involves a steady increase in females, but not in males, while full-time education shows the same upwards pattern.
The number of men in further education was around 33% higher than women in 1970, amounting to 1 million in the former and 700,000 in the latter. However, by the start of the 1980’s, the difference between the two sexes has become slim, with both having approximately 850,000 students in this level of studies. By 1990, however, the number of women surpassed that of men by close to 250,000.
Moreover, part-time education increased steadily in females while males showed a clear fluctuation with a slight dip in 1980, with just 800,000 students. While full-time education rose gradually by 100% in males and 300% in femlaes.