Turner: Boys' education ignored by Government
Figures showing nearly a third of all boys leaving school have substandard literacy, is just another statistic showing
boys falling further behind girls in every level of education, says United Future education spokesperson Judy Turner.
“There is a significant and growing gap between the achievement levels of boys and girls in schools, and this gap
continues into tertiary education,” says Mrs Turner.
“Boys learn differently to girls – and the NCEA environment appears to be suiting the girls more. Boys are getting
further and further behind, yet the Minister of Education has said that he will not look at any initiatives designed to
help boys better perform in school.
“The Government needs to wake up and realise that ignoring the problem is not making it go away, but making things
worse,” says Mrs Turner.
At NCEA level 1 the gender gap is 10-12 per cent in favour of girls. This means for every six girls who pass only five
boys do.
The gender gap is growing at level 2 and 3, and many more boys leave school before senior level. Last year, males
comprised 47 per cent of the year 13 roll, and had just 41 per cent of passes.
At excellence level the gap is even greater. In 2005 girls gained 75 per cent more excellence passes at level 1, 57 per
cent at level 2 and 50 per cent more outstanding scholarships.
“This will lead to major inequality in the not so distant future. This gender gap continues to University where over
thirty percent more women than men enrolled in 2004, and this has long term implications,” says Mrs Turner.
“The Minister needs to look at the facts and react accordingly by looking at ways in which our boys can better succeed
at school.
“It is obvious that the Governments current strategy of ignoring the problem and hoping it fixes itself, just isn’t
working and is hurting our students,” says Mrs Turner.
ENDS