Gender Disparities in STEM Education: A Statistical Decomposition of PISA 2022 Scores

Abstract

Worldwide, researchers are studying the differences in how genders perform in science and mathematics. In a complicated educational system like Pakistan's, evaluating differences in isolation would not lead to a complete understanding. Therefore, this study evaluates changes in performance patterns in Science and Mathematics, looking at both genders and comparing public and private institutions. Data was collected from a large group of primary school kids throughout the country (n=15,391) utilizing SATs/MATS. Data analysis using independent t-tests and two-way ANOVA. Results revealed that girls outperformed boys in Science (p<0.01) while no gender differences in performance were observed in Mathematics. The relationship between gender and school systems had a substantial impact, but only in mathematics. Specifically, females performed better in public schools, but this difference lessened in private schools. The findings suggest that gender-fair policies and practices should be considered in science and mathematics education.