London: Girls perform better at university when taught in single-sex classes, research suggests.
Academics who split their students into three groups — men-only, women-only and mixed — found that the women-only class received considerably higher marks at the end of the year. The girls in the single-sex group said they felt more comfortable and confident in classes without boys.
Comparison
University of Essex researchers Dr Patrick Nolen and Professor Alison Booth divided 800 first-year undergraduates into three groups for introductory courses in economics. At the end of the year, the average member of the girls-only group did 7.5 per cent better on her exams than those in the other groups.
Attendance was a major factor, as girls were much more likely to turn up for classes if they were placed in single-sex classes. On average, girls in single-sex groups attended 71 per cent of the classes, while those being taught alongside boys attended just 63 per cent.
The academics who carried out the study warned that girls who show less confidence in the classroom may be less competitive in the job market.
— Dail Mail