28th June 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
This week the government’s business select committee has said that steps need to be taken to encourage more girls to study science and maths at A level and university. The MPs concluded that national initiatives are required in order to address the lack of female representation in maths and science, as it was revealed that large employers in industries where these skills are necessary discriminate against women with regards pay and working hours. The fact that employers are currently able to get away with paying women less, and making it difficult for women to return to work after taking maternity leave, needs addressing in the strongest terms. However, what can be done at an earlier level to ensure that girls are encouraged to take these subjects in the first place?
Much more needs to be done to ensure that teachers do what they can to encourage girls, and avoid passing on the stereotypes of what subjects boys and girls are good at to their students. Where teachers are failing students, parents often hire private tutors to make up the short fall. Sometimes, private tutors are hired by parents to supplement learning in subjects their children are already enjoying. A student might enjoy reading, and be on a path for an A or B grade in GCSE English. A tutor’s job is then to allow the student’s interest to grow, and supplement the education they receive at school to ensure that the student does achieve the A grade that they are capable of. But most often tutors are hired to help students who are struggling with subjects at school. Many tuition requests are raised by parents who want to help their daughters struggling with maths and sciences, where school teaching isn’t addressing the fundamental problems experienced by their children.
Girl’s aversion to maths and science often begins early on at school, where, perhaps, their teachers assume that they will be less talented at these subjects, or where they are shouted down by boys in the classroom. One to one tuition can help restore girls’ confidence in these subjects, and build the skills that they are missing out on at school. Problems with these subjects often stem from the fact that girls have missed out at a young age on the key principles involved, and are thereafter struggling to progress. Tutors can identify these problems and address them in a friendly way at the student’s own pace. Ultimately, whilst private tuition is very beneficial, it is ultimately the job of schools to ensure that girls are encouraged towards maths and science, rather than put off for life