The SSC exam results declared recently, had no surprises. Girls
were one step ahead in comparison to the boys. This pattern seems to repeat
itself annually when it comes to exams. So, what makes girls take the top
honours everytime? Are they more focused than boys?
Studies show students excel if they are
motivated and interested enough to continue carrying on despite obstacles. SSC
student, Ruth Siqueira, from the Our Lady of the Rosary High School, Caranzalem
said students were not really motivated to study because of the online classes.
“Most of the teachers did their best, but
unless students are self-motivated and committed to completing their tasks
nothing will happen,” Siqueira said.
In this regard, she feels girls had more
motivation to do better in their exams and hence, took it more seriously than
the boys, who were not as self-motivated. School topper, Jonaha Ferrao of St.
Theresa High School, St Estevam feels that unlike boys who are interested more
in games than studies, girls are a lot more responsible and hardworking. “When
it comes to exams, the girls are a little more hardworking and responsible
whereas boys prefer to spend their time playing games and don’t concentrate as
much on their studies. In saying that, there are differences between boys and
girls, in some instances girls shine and in others, boys”. Contrary to their
beliefs, SSC Student Alia Katevelia of St. Mary’s Convent High School, Mapusa,
claims societal pressure plays an unsolicited part in the matter. “If a boy
scores less marks, it’s fine, but for a girl, it’s not. We are somehow expected
to secure a good percentage, and there’s an unnecessary amount of pressure on
all of us.”
Science and French Teacher, Sybil Rodrigues of Our Lady of the
Rosary Convent feels that subconsciously, girls want to prove themselves
capable to everyone and most importantly to themselves and that could be why
they surpass boys.
She said, “I think girls are more focussed, because somewhere,
subconsciously it is ingrained in their minds that they should prove themselves
to be better than boys and because of that they tend to focus more on what they
have to achieve and avoid distractions to the best of their capabilities.”
On being asked why boys aren’t that motivated to study she
added, “It’s really hard to say why boys aren’t as motivated as girls, maybe
it’s because they take life easy, it’s different in a boys classroom, they have
the attitude of ‘oh we’ll get a hand of it later, leave it right now”. Girls
are much more dedicated, interested in what they are studying,” she said.
According to her, that there are some boys who are exceptions
and excel but on the whole, girls tend to be more attentive and that’s what
helps them outsmart boys.
According to Math teacher Fizell Fernandes of St. Mary’s Convent
High School, Mapusa, girls are more goal-oriented, hardworking and want to
achieve what they have planned.
She said, “I have been teaching in a girls school, and this is
what I feel, that they are go-getters”. On being asked why the boys are not as
focussed as girls, she replied by saying, “Maybe they have other things in
mind, they’re more playful, and it is evident that girls are more mature in
this adolescence stage, as compared to boys who are a little playful”.
She doesn’t agree with the opinion that all boys aren’t
interested in studying, she feels some are very goal oriented and some of them
will shine as much as girls do.
Fizell said, “There are a few who are playful, that’s why the
overall percentage of boys comes down, but in my opinion there are boys who are
also hard working and want to excel.”
Gardenia, a teacher at Fr Agnel School, Verna is of the opinion
that girls have a determination within themselves to achieve their set targets
because their end goal is to be independent and not dependent.
She said, “Girls try to be responsible because later on they
want to be independent. When they get married, they want to be able to depend
on themselves and not their husbands and ultimately, they want to be somebody
in life.”
Defending the boys, Miguel Gonsalves of Auxilium Convent High
School, Caranzalem said, “It is obvious that girls study harder than us boys.
When we are young we don’t want to study, but later on in life we straighten
up, try to make something of ourselves, get a job.” Shelton Rodrigues the Head
boy of Don Bosco School, Panjim admits, “We don’t work as hard as the girls
because we get distracted easily by technology especially this time since
everything was online, but we do take life seriously later on”.
Perhaps
some more time in front of the books and less in front of the computer playing
games could perhaps improve the situation.
