While many boys continue to slip through the cracks in the nation's education system, the Government has decided against funding a study seeking to determine the reasons for the underperformance of boys in primary and secondary schools.

Dr Pauline Knight, director of social policy, planning and research at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), told The Gleaner that the study was bumped from the organisation's budget for this fiscal year.

"Towards the end of last year when we were actually preparing our budget we had it as one of the studies that we wanted to do," Knight said.

"But, it didn't get funded. So we are looking externally now to get the funds," she added.

Taitu Heron, manager of the social development and gender unit, revealed that $2.8 million was the amount included in the institute's budget proposal as the money needed to finance the research.

Knight revealed that the PIOJ had turned its attention overseas in a bid to secure grant funding for the critical study.

"We have some things that should bear fruit but it's not yet in place. It takes a little time when you are negotiating with the international community," she said.

Knight said the study was desperately needed. This need was reiterated during a workshop preparing players for Jamaica's national report on the millennium development goals to be presented to the United Nations Economic and Social Council's annual ministerial review.

During the presentation of the national report last week, Jenny Jones, social development consultant, revealed that more than three dozen experts at the meeting agreed that a major study was necessary if Jamaican boys were to be saved.

Study needed

Jones pointed out that the need for the study could clearly be seen in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate exams.

"Fewer boys enter and even fewer are successful," she said.

"You can see it in the dropout rate. After grade nine at the secondary level there is a dropout rate generally, but it is higher among boys."

While pointing out that the experts agreed that the underperformance of boys was being caused by a multiplicity of factors, Jones said the role of the teacher would be among the issues examined.

"There is also a view that teachers are more punitive against boys than they are against girls," she said.

The national report noted that Jamaica was lagging in its bid to promote gender equality and empower women.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com

Excerpts from the national report

No gender disparity at primary. Gender disparity begins at grade 6 in the primary completion rate and peaks at grade 9 of secondary levels as boys drop out. Males under-represented at tertiary level by 2:1.

Problems include underperformance of boys, unemployment rate among women (over twice that of men), and cultural barriers affecting female participation in governance.