WILLEMSTAD - Education in Curaçao is struggling with a persistent gender gap, with boys significantly underperforming compared to girls. This is revealed in a recent study by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and researcher Goretti Narain, who analyzes the issue in her report "The Boy Problem."
The findings show that boys fall behind at an early age, particularly in language and fine motor skills. They are overrepresented in special education and vocational training, while girls dominate the higher academic levels.
The causes of this gap are both biological and societal, with boys often receiving less support from parents and teachers. This lack of engagement leads to frustration and, in many cases, early school dropout.
Narain advocates for redesigning the education system to better accommodate the learning styles of boys. Both studies call for structural changes to improve boys' chances in education and strengthen their role in society.