Boys are facing challenges with reading, leading to higher dropout rates from the education system and lower likelihood of obtaining a higher education diploma.
However, they compensate for this with their self-confidence. Deputy Minister of Education Katarzyna Lubnauer discusses a new “educational gap” that is emerging.
The Education ministry is planning changes to encourage Polish boys to read more.
The government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk enacted the ban against required homework this month amid a broad discussion about the need to modernize Poland’s education system, which critics say puts too much emphasis on rote learning and homework, and not enough on critical thinking and creativity.
This is one the key points that differentiate boys and girls, girls are more studious than boys and tend to do more homework, thus more engaged in classes, but boys get left behind as on average they do less homework.
Under the decree, teachers are no longer to give required homework to kids in the first to third grades. In grades four to eight, homework is now optional and doesn’t count towards a grade.
Not everyone likes the change
Ola’s parents are divided “If there is something that will make students enjoy school more, then it will probably be good both for the students and for the school,” said her father, Pawel Kozak.
Poland’s educational system has undergone a number of controversial overhauls. Almost every new government has tried to make changes — something many teachers and parents say has left them confused and discouraged.
For example, after communism was thrown off, middle schools were introduced. Then under the last government, the previous system was brought back. More controversy came in recent years when ultra-conservative views were pushed in new textbooks.
The desire to read translates not only into school results, but also into the choices of educational and professional paths. These are the main conclusions from the conference organized by the Ministry of Education and the Educational Research Institute on the differences in the education of girls and boys.