The study found that differences in maths ability between boys and girls become apparent once they begin formal education. (Photo: Rebecca Nelson/Getty Images)
A new study suggests that classroom teaching methods may be responsible for the gender gap in maths achievement, and the effect is visible from the moment children start school.
The study, published July 11 in the journal Nature, included data on the math skills of more than 2.5 million first-graders in France. It found that while girls and boys began school with similar math skills, within four months, boys performed significantly better than girls. By the end of the first year, the gap had quadrupled.
Gender differences in math performance have been noted around the world, and the disparity has long been thought to be due to supposed gender differences – “boys are better at math” and “girls are better at language” – which are in fact stereotypes with no scientific basis.
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Sourse: www.livescience.com
