Boys extend math lead over girls in Danish schools

In Danish schools, the Timss 2023 report shows that boys have widened the gap in math proficiency over girls, with the gender difference increasing from 6 to 15 points. This gap suggests that girls are, on average, a quarter to a half school year behind boys by the 4th grade. Rune Müller Kristensen, co-author of the report, interprets this as a sign of gender inequality in the education system, resulting in potential long-term impacts on educational and career choices. The trend reflects international patterns and maintains Denmark’s 23rd-place ranking among 63 countries. Kristensen credits the consistent performance since 2019 to resilience despite school closures during the pandemic.