Gender disparity in education has usually been experienced as disadvantaging girls. Now a new phenomenon of boys’ underachievement—both in terms of participation and performance—is appearing in a number of countries.

This book reviews the research on boy’s underachievement and presents the arguments that have been put forward to understand its causes. The authors also present new studies from Australia, Jamaica, Lesotho and Samoa; and they use both the research and the evidence from the case studies to explore the causes and policy implications of the trend—the first time a truly cross-regional approach has been applied to the issue.

This book will interest all education policy makers and analysts concerned to ensure gender equality in school education.

Table of Contents:

Foreword; PART I: CROSS-COUNTRY ANALYSIS: 1. Introduction and Background; 2. What the Existing Literature Says; 3. Varying Dimensions and Lessons Emerging from Selected Commonwealth Countries; PART II: THE CASE STUDIES: 4. Australia: Socialisation and Socio-Economics; 5. Jamaica: Alienation and High Drop-Out Rates; 6. Lesotho: A Case of Under-Participation; 7. Samoa: A Major Challenge to the Education System; Bibliography; About the Authors.