THE Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disability is taking the participation of women in science and technology seriously.

This week more than 270 schoolgirls from disadvantaged backgrounds received first-hand experience of what it's like to be an engineer or mathematician, thanks to the ministry.

Spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said the ministry, through its Tech Girls programme, had placed the girls in more than 80 companies to expose them in the fields of maths, science, technology and engineering.

The programme was established three years ago in an effort to encourage more girls to study these subjects and pursue careers in these fields.

"The aim is to improve the representation of women in these sectors," Mngadi said.

He said 1500 girls participated in the programme since it was established. It was implemented in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and North West and plans are in place to start it in the other provinces .

Mngadi said the ministry was concerned that girls lagged behind in these subjects, which ultimately influenced women's under-representation in these careers.

"Fewer girls pass maths and science than boys. According to the 2010 national senior certificate examinations report results, more boys passed maths and physical science despite the fact that more girls (54percent for maths and 51 percent for science) sat for matric in the two subjects.

"In maths 52percent of boys passed as opposed to 44percent of girls and in science 50 percent of boys passed and 46 percent of girls were successful," Mngadi said.

He said the girls, from Grade 9 to Grade 12, were selected by the provincial education departments at public schools.

"The participants should demonstrate dedication and have achieved good academic results, particularly in maths or maths literacy and science," Mngadi said.