[Pak Daily Times] Girls receive better marks at school than boys because they are better behaved, not because they are cleverer, a study suggests.Teachers give higher marks to reflect 'certain student characteristics' that are not related to ability, the international study claims.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which carried out the research, said that the bias could have 'far-reaching effects' for boys' self-esteem.
It could also cause them to miss out on university places or change their career ambitions, as lower marks may cause students to lower their aims accordingly.
The study, which analysed 17 countries that use a large number of tests set by teachers or student coursework, also found that pupils from affluent backgrounds were given higher marks by teachers during internal assessments.
In Britannia, nearly two thirds of girls achieve five good GCSEs, while only half of boys do so.
The Coalition Government plans to assess GCSEs almost entirely through end-of-year exams instead of coursework marked by teachers.
Andreas Schleicher, deputy director for education and skills at the OECD, told the Telegraph: 'School marks are more than just a source of anxiety - and pride - among students.
'Therefore, whenever teachers reward - or punish - certain students' characteristics that are unrelated to learning, they may inadvertently shape a student's future according to factors that have nothing to do with their abilities, talents and personal goals.'