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Why girls achieve academically more than boys in the Arab world? : the effect of gender segregation and bullying in schools on gender achievement

Atef, M. (2019) Why girls achieve academically more than boys in the Arab world? : the effect of gender segregation and bullying in schools on gender achievement.

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Abstract:In mathematics, science and reading; the gender gap between boys and girls in Arab countries’ schools is substantially bigger than the other countries in favour of girls. This difference may hinder boys in Arab countries from having sufficient skills in their future studies and jobs. The main goal of this research is to find possible reasons behind the gender gap in the Arab schools. The literature suggests that school type (single-sex or mixed-sex school) could be one of the reasons for the gender gap. It is suggested that in all-boys classes the class climate is more violent which leads to more bullying and this has a negative impact on achievement. While in all-girls classes, the environment tends to be more calm and cooperative, which reduces bullying and enhance achievement. This study investigates if school type and bullying are related to achievement and if this is one of the reasons behind the gender gap in achievement in Arab countries. Using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 assessment of grade 8 students in 7 countries, a series of t-tests in addition to a multilevel regression model were conducted to determine the effect of school type and bullying on student achievement. The results showed that bullying is common in the Arab countries’ schools and is negatively associated with student achievement. No correlation between bullying and school type was found. However, school type and school socioeconomic status were related and this might be one of the explanations for the achievement gap between grade 8 girls and boys in the Arab countries.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:81 education, teaching
Programme:Educational Science and Technology MSc (60023)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/79413
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