Don’t drop the uni bar for girls

Kate Hadwen, principal of Pymble Ladies College, one of the nation’s top schools, is correct in her condemnation of the University of Technology Sydney’s decision to lower entry standards for female students who want to study STEM courses. On Saturday, Dr Hadwen described the move as “outrageous’’. Australia needs more STEM students and science professionals. But the UTS decision is insulting to clever, hardworking girls aspiring to careers in science, maths, engineering and IT. They are capable of making their way on merit. The move is also unfair to boys, who could miss out on places as girls enter courses with 10 fewer Australian Tertiary Admission Rank points. Such sexist mollycoddling is counter to the spirit of International Women’s Day, which saw the achievements of women celebrated around the world on Sunday.

For Australian cricket fans, the highlight of the day was our women’s team’s convincing victory in the T20 World Cup final, their fifth Cup triumph. In 1988, only 3000 people turned up when Australia beat England in the same event. On Sunday, 86,174 people packed the MCG — Australia’s largest-ever crowd for a women’s sporting event. The game’s quality and excitement more than justified the “Fill the MCG” campaign. Millions around the world were also watching. Some attended or tuned in out of curiosity. But by the eighth over of Australia’s innings, when Alyssa Healy pounded successive 6s, newbie spectators had become converts. The Australians’ stroke play, bowling and catching were outstanding. After a spate of injuries early in the series, the Aussies’ victory showed talent and resilience and took the game to a new level of interest. The win was a great celebration of International Women’s Day.