Some people argue that higher education institutions need to allow a balanced ratio for both genders across all courses to promote equality. I, however, firmly disprove this notion.
Qualifications on whether a student is fit for a specific program of study should never be based on their gender but rather on their academic standing and their interest for the course, among others. For instance, a female candidate wanting to study nursing may not have an opportunity to pursue it because all slots for females in the said program were filled and a slot is given to a male counterpart even though she is more eligible. As such instance, it does not promote equality but instead shows a disparity in the system.
Furthermore, this policy may lead to financial loss for the schools and a burden for the enrollees because one subject may include either of the genders more and thus, not having a full capacity on students. As seen in healthcare and hospitality courses, these are known to be women-dominated just as much as engineering is for men. If such restrictions will be followed, there is a bigger chance of unfilled slots and the matriculation and other fees might increase.
To summarize, while there are individuals that think that a parallel number of men and women should be in a program of study, I completely negate this idea. Gender should not be a basis to be deemed eligible for a chosen subject as this will lead to lapses in the system and it might be a cause for economic stress to both the school and the student due to vacant positions in the courses.