Boys Achievement: A Synthesis of the Data
The focus of this report is on boys participation, engagement and achievement at different levels of education.
Author: Learning Policy Frameworks, Ministry of Education
Date Published: December 2007
Chapter 3 - School Disengagement
Regular school attendance is essential to encourage all young people to stay at school until at least the age of 16 and benefit from being there. This chapter aims to create a picture of gender differences in student disengagement from school by considering information regarding truancy, early leaving exemptions, stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions.
* Truancy rates have increased from 2004 to 2006 but there are no differences by gender. However, the truancy rate is higher for Maori and Pasifika boys than NZ European and Asian boys. This is also true for girls.
* Males are stood-down and suspended more frequently than females. Gender differences exist across all ethnic groupings but Maori and Pasifika students have the highest rates of stand-downs and suspensions and the largest gender difference.
* The formal removal (exclusion and expulsion) of students from school is principally a male problem, with Maori and Pasifika males having the highest rates.
* Males account for 62% of all early leaving exemptions. Maori males have the highest rate, with 20 % of Maori males granted early leave. Males granted early leave are more likely to go into full-time employment than females granted early leave.