Introduction
A recent international study reveals a troubling reversal in educational equity: girls are losing ground to boys in mathematics achievement at both the fourth- and eighth-grade levels. The analysis, based on data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), shows that the modest gains made over the past decade have been erased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Matthias Eck, a program specialist at UNESCO's Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality, the findings are alarming. “In the latest data, we see that the gap is widening again between girls and boys, and that's at the detriment of girls,” he says.
The TIMSS Study and Its Findings
The TIMSS, conducted every four years by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) in partnership with UNESCO, measures math and science achievement among fourth- and eighth-grade students globally. The latest edition is the first to capture the full impact of the pandemic on student performance. In 2023, fourth-grade boys outperformed girls in the vast majority of participating countries, widening the pre-existing gender gap. Among eighth-graders, the rate of boys scoring higher than girls increased exponentially since 2019, reversing over a decade of progress toward math equity.
Advanced Achievement Gaps
The situation is particularly stark among top performers. Among fourth-graders, 85 percent of countries saw results skewed toward boys in advanced math achievement. For eighth-graders, slightly more than half of the countries had a gender gap favoring boys at the advanced level, while no country showed a gap favoring girls in either grade. This consistent disadvantage for girls at the highest levels of achievement highlights systemic issues that extend beyond basic proficiency.
Concerns Over Basic Proficiency
The report also raises red flags for students at the opposite end of the spectrum. The proportion of countries where a higher share of fourth-grade girls than boys fail to reach basic math proficiency is on the rise. While the gender gap in underperformance among eighth-graders appears to be narrowing, the number of countries where girls have a higher failure rate has actually spiked. This suggests that efforts to support struggling learners may be missing their mark where girls are concerned.
Post-Pandemic Disruption and Learning Loss
Researchers link these trends to pandemic-related school closures. The TIMSS data shows a correlation between longer closures and greater learning loss in math, with variations across countries. “One of the hypotheses is really that those disruptions during the pandemic may have exacerbated existing disparities and have reduced learning opportunities for girls,” Eck explains. He adds that girls who were already at risk of low achievement were likely most affected. The absence from structured learning environments may also have hurt their confidence, though this remains a hypothesis.
Causes and Hypotheses
While the report does not establish direct causation, it points to several potential factors. Girls in many regions faced additional domestic responsibilities during lockdowns, limiting their study time. Additionally, the lack of in-person instruction may have disproportionately affected girls who thrive in collaborative, teacher-supported settings. The IEA and UNESCO call for further research to understand the specific mechanisms driving the widening gap, but the data already suggests an urgent need for targeted interventions.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The TIMSS results echo similar findings from the U.S. Nation’s Report Card and other national assessments. Policymakers, educators, and international organizations must prioritize gender-responsive strategies to reverse this trend. As Eck notes, “The fact that girls were out of school and were not in the learning environment could have impacted their confidence.” Addressing both academic and socio-emotional needs will be critical to ensuring that global gains in math equity are not lost. The data is clear: without concerted effort, the gender gap will continue to widen, leaving millions of girls behind.