1. Regional Policy Dialogue on Education Caribbean Sub-Regional Meeting Hilton Hotel, Bridgetown, Barbados Explaining Differences in School Performance throughout the Caribbean Presented by: Barbara Bailey University Director Centre for Gender & Development Studies, UWI

2. 2 The Research Project The paper / presentation uses data that forms part of the Research Initiative: Gender Differentials at the Secondary Level of the Education System in the Anglophone Caribbean. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: To identify gender differentials in enrolment, curriculum subscription and performance of males and females at the grade nine / fourth form level of secondary schools in four Caribbean countries To examine socio-cultural, economic and political factors accounting for male/female differentials in this regard in an effort to provide an explanation of male/female advantage and disadvantage in education systems

3. 3 Presentation Overview 1. Sample Demographics a. School characteristics b. Student characteristics 2. Literacy and Numeracy (English Language and Mathematics) a. Patterns of Subscription b. Patterns of Performance c. Factors predictive of performance 3. Theoretical / Explanatory Frameworks

4. 4 Sample Demographics - School Characteristics 1. School Type a. Co-Educational – 30 schools b. Single Sex – 4 Male / 5 Female 2. Administration a. State-run – 27 schools b. Church-run – 12 schools 3. Curriculum Orientation a. Traditional / Grammar – 28 schools b. Technical – 11 schools 4. Location a. Urban – 23 schools b. Rural – 16 schools 5. SES of School Community a. High – 9 schools b. Middle – 24 schools c. Low – 5 schools

5. 5 Sample Demographics – Student Characteristics CountryN% Belize21113.30% Guyana28117.72% Jamaica54234.17% Trinidad & Tobago55234.80%

6. 6 Sample Demographics – Student Characteristics MaleFemale N%N% 6804390657

7. 7 Sample Demographics – Student Characteristics 1. ETHNICITY a. 633 (40%) Afro-Caribbean b. 388 (30%) Indo-Caribbean c. 156 (7%) Indigenous Groups d. 406 (30%) Other 2. RELIGION a. 1205 (76.75%) Christian b. 210 (13.38%) Hindu c. 48 (3.06%) Muslim d. 107 (6.82%) Other religion 3. HOUSEHOLD SIZE a. 1446 (91.18%) 0 – 6 persons b. 140 (8.82%) > 6 persons 4. PARENTS’ EDUCATION a. 178 (12.28%) Primary b. 572 (39.45%) Secondary c. 535 (36.9%) Tertiary d. 165 (11.38%) Don’t Know 5. ACADEMIC HISTORY a. 135 (9.86%) Pre School b. 830 (60.63%) Gov’t Primary c. 170 (12.42%) Preparatory d. 234 (17.09%) Church Primary

8. 8 Subscription to English Language & Mathematics by Sex

9. 9 Literacy and Numeracy – Subscription by Country & Sex

10. 10 English Language – Subscription by School Type Co-Educational Schools 1. Belize/T&T - Females had higher rates of subscription than males 2.Guyana/Jamaica – Males had higher rates of subscription than females Single-Sex Schools 1. Belize/T&T – Males had higher rates of subscription than females 2. Jamaica – Females had higher rates of subscription than males

11. 11 Mathematics – Subscription  Co-Educational Schools 1. Belize/Guyana/T&T - Females had higher rates of subscription 2.Jamaica – Males had equal rates of subscription in Mathematics (95.98%) as females (95.94%)  Single-Sex Schools 1. Belize/Jamaica/Trinidad and Tobago – Males consistently had higher rates of subscription in Mathematics than females

12. Patterns of Performance Personal Factors

13. 13 Patterns of Performance (By Sex)

14. 14 Mean Performance in English Language & Mathematics by Country 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 English language 74.5258.8552.7560.73 Mathematics 74.1454.5244.6158.96 BelizeGuyanaJamaicaTrinidad &Tobago

15. 15 Patterns of Performance (By Country and Sex)

16. 16 Patterns of Performance (By Ethnicity)

17. 17 Patterns of Performance (By Ethnicity & Country)

18. 18 Patterns of Performance (By Parents’ Education)

19. Patterns of Performance School-related Factors

20. 20 Pattern of Performance (By School Type)

21. 21 Pattern of Performance (By School Location)

22. 22 Pattern of Performance (By School Administration)

23. 23 Pattern of Performance (By Curriculum Orientation)

24. 24 Pattern of Performance (By SES of School Community)

25. Predicting Performance Significant micro and macro level factors

26. 26 Factors Predictive of Performance  Belize: 1. Sex of the student 2. Ethnicity 3. Previous school 4. SES of school location 5. Geographic location 6. Curriculum orientation  Guyana: 1. No significant factors  Jamaica: 1. Sex of student 2. School type 3. Previous school 4. SES of school location 5. Parents’ education.  Trinidad & Tobago: 1. School Administration ENGLISH LANGUAGE

27. 27 Predictive Factors of Performance  Belize: 1. Sex of the student 2. Ethnicity 3. Geographic location 4. Curriculum orientation  Guyana: 1. Sex of the student 2. SES of school location 3. Geographic location  Jamaica: 1. Previous school  Trinidad & Tobago: 1. SES of school location 2. Curriculum orientation MATHEMATICS

28. 28 Patterns of Performance - Summary Trends 1. Performance in single-sex schools was better than in coeducational schools 2. Students of ethnicities other than Afro-Caribbean exhibited better performance 3. Students in schools in high/middle SES locations performed better than those from lower SES locations 4. Better performance is observed in church run than state run schools 5. Students in schools in urban areas perform better than those in rural areas. 6. Students from schools with a traditional academic curriculum do better than those in technical schools. 7. Students who attended preparatory schools prior to going to a secondary school do better than those who attended government primary schools.

29. The Political-Economy Perspective Male Underachievement

30. 30 Unemployment Rate, 15+ Population

31. 31 MACRO LEVEL MICRO LEVEL GIRLS STUDENTS Between group Differences BOYS Within Group Differences HOME WIDER SOCIETY GIRLS Within Group Differences Access & Participation & Treatment SCHOOL Outcome Socio-economic status Ethnicity/Religion Family Structure Enrolment Curriculum Choice Resources to support curriculum Sexual politics Gender justice Transition to world of work Cultural Norms The economy Governance & decision-making Theoretical / Explanatory Framework

32. Explaining Differences in School Performance throughout the Caribbean Regional Policy Dialogue on Education Caribbean Sub-Regional Meeting Hilton Hotel Bridgetown, Barbados Questions and Comments