 Girls do better in the classroom than boys in the developed world. But in developing countries, girls lag behind boys, according to the latest research.
Boys and girls enroll in elementary school at the same rate in developing countries. But many more girls drop out along the way than boys.
Why this difference? Both sexes are equally intelligent and capable.
Teachers discriminate against girls
Teachers are mostly male in developing countries. They see girls as less intelligent. They give boys more attention. Boys have more opportunity to talk and participate. Girls are expected to be obedient - to be quiet and sit at the back of the classroom.
Ways to overcome discrimination:
- Hire more female teachers. This would encourage more parents to send their girls to school.
- Train teachers to become aware of gender issues.
- Set up special tutoring programs for girls to help them improve their grades.
Poverty stops girls from going to school
But more often than not, it's often simply poverty that prevents girls from getting an education.
“You have to educate the people to reduce poverty and you need to reduce poverty to educate the people,” explains Mercy Tembon, the World Bank's lead education specialist in gender equity.
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