Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that “Everyone has the right to education”. Education “works to raise men and women out of poverty, level inequalities and ensure sustainable development” (UNESCO, 2024). UHDR also states that “Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” It will take some time for every boy and girl to realize their right to a high-quality education (UNESCO, 2024). However, given that girls make up most children who are not enrolled in school worldwide (Kattan, 2023), it is appropriate to concentrate attention on addressing the obstacles that girls experience while trying to obtain education.
However, in recent times, education ministers from all throughout the Commonwealth have brought up the growing problem of boys’ underachievement and low attendance at school, which affects all regions equally (Jha & Kelleher, 2006; The Commonwealth Secretariat, 2022). The National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results for 2024, which were released, support the gender gap theory, with more females than males ranking in the top 1% of the nation. The reality is “that more boys are currently out of school than girls today and are at a higher risk of failing to advance and complete their education” (The Commonwealth, 2022).
Guyana has been experiencing the gender gap in academic performance for several years. The primary and secondary levels are just the beginning of it. For instance, President Ali voiced concern about our males in his speech on the occasion of Guyana’s 54th Republic Anniversary, pointing out that over 20,000 women are pursuing education under the GOAL scholarship program. “Our men are not taking their place in our society,” he said. They are not moving forward to help our women. The fact that fewer men were applying to the scholarship program was highlighted by him. He pointed out that men were declining in number when it came to university admissions and teaching. He made a call to action for men in this nation and, more importantly, in this CARICOM area. He pleaded passionately for the circumstances to swiftly improve.
Despite the high cost of boys dropping out of school, there are few initiatives and policies in place to address this issue. The need for work is one of the main causes of boys’ dropout rates, according to the report “Leave No Child Behind: The Global Report on Boys’ Disengagement from Education” (UNESCO, 2022). It reveals that more boys than girls are currently not in school and that they face a greater risk of not progressing and finishing their education. Boys’ low motivation, underachievement, and disengagement from school are also caused by gendered norms and expectations, strict discipline, bullying, and procedures like class streaming and gender segregation (UNSECO, 2022).
In addition, the report provides several specific suggestions and remedies to stop boys from dropping out of school, which included creating a safe and welcoming learning environment, improving data and evidence, creating and funding fair educational systems, and supporting coordinated and integrated efforts to raise the quality of education for all students.
According to the research, supporting boys’ education does not imply that girls will experience hardship, and vice versa. “Addressing boys’ disengagement helps not just their learning, career opportunities, income, and well-being,” (The Commonwealth, 2022) but it also makes a substantial contribution to gender equality and the intended socioeconomic and health outcomes. The report recommends that stakeholders collaborate to ensure that no child falls behind, with efforts customized to each country’s unique environment.
