Girls Coddled In Maths, Boys In Languages
Seinäjoelta voi valmistua ammatilliseksi opettajaksi.
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Final grades from primary education are not always an accurate reflection of a pupil's level of accomplishment. Boys are often required to show better math skills than girls to get the same grade. In turn, boys may get higher marks in language skills than they actually have earned.
A pupil's gender may influence how the teachers evaluate final school marks.
According to a dissertation by Liisa Näveri, ninth grade girls' math scores are better than boys, although their knowledge of the subject is weaker.
"Using purely mathematical tests as a measurement, the boys' skills are better than those of girls. Even so, the boys got worse grades," says Näveri.
Grading is influenced by other factors, such as activity in the classroom, in which girls may make a better impression. However, a study by the Finnish National Board of Education indicates that boys are required to display more actual math skills to get the same marks as girls.
On the other hand, the situation is reversed when it comes to language studies. Hannu-Pekka Lappalainen, a counsellor at the National Board of Education, says that even when boys and girls are equal in studies of their mother tongue, the boys get higher grades.
"In particular, boys with low language skill levels are not required to show the same writing ability as girls are. It seems that an effort has been made to promote gender equality by giving boys grades that do not reflect their real skills," explains Lappalainen.
He urges both public and private schools to pay more attention to inequalities in grading.
"The first year in secondary school or vocational school may bring some surprises when the level of standards is different than assumed. In terms of equality for all, this imbalance in evaluation can be an extremely erosive problem."
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