Solving the equation
Helping girls and boys learn mathematics
Highlights
Basic literacy and numeracy, as well as socio-emotional skills, are building blocks for lifelong learning. Basic reading skills are a gateway to learning; without them, children fail to learn other subjects. Numeracy skills are equally important, laying the groundwork for problem solving, logical reasoning and critical thinking – in school and everyday life. While reading proficiency is a proxy for foundational learning in other subjects due to strong correlations at the school and country levels,1 it is also important to measure and understand the factors contributing to the development of numeracy skills. Early numeracy skills matter for school readiness and success: compared to reading and attention skills, they are a stronger predictor of later mathematics and reading achievement.2
A complementary focus on numeracy reveals other learning disparities, such as gender gaps in skills and confidence. In reading, boys are often at a disadvantage.3 However, as will be seen here, girls often face a disadvantage in mathematics.4 Moreover, even when achievement differences between genders are not significant, lower self-confidence in mathematics skills persists among girls, potentially affecting their future education and career choices.5
This report examines some factors associated with mathematical skills, with a focus on gender. It draws on data from various surveys that include an assessment of mathematics or numeracy skills across various age groups. It aims to not only uncover gender disparities, but also explore other factors, including beliefs and attitudes towards learning, that may affect mathematics achievement. The data used here reflect the pre-COVID status, likely worsened by school closures and disruptions in protective services that schools provide. We learn more every day about how COVID-19 negatively affected learning outcomes, especially among the most vulnerable, who were already lagging before the pandemic.6 COVID-19 also exacerbated already existing gender inequalities in education.
