Don’t Forget the Boys: Achieving Gender Equality in Education

Achieving gender parity in primary and secondary education enrolment and completion is an essential first step in achieving gender equality in education. Gender norms are perpetuated, directly or indirectly, by education systems. A hidden curriculum leads to biases in textbook representations of gender and in teaching practices. These norms and beliefs that are traditionally associated with the exclusion of girls can also negatively affect boys. This paper describes the extent of the problem, examines where and why it occurs and explores possible solutions