Elgin Taylor, Star Writer

For decades, the matter of girls outperforming boys has been of great concern to stakeholders in the education system. Attempts to address this imbalance seem to have come up short.

However, principal of Polly Ground Primary School, Ewarton, St Catherine, Colin Blake, and his staff may have come up with a solution.

"We are actively involved in a gender initiative, separating the boys from the girls for teaching," he told The Star.

The principal explained that males are taught separately by male teachers, and this principle holds true for females as well. The programme involves all classes, but has been operational at grades one, four, five and six. The initiative, which started in 2005, has a mentorship component to it.

Training

The innovative principal noted that the teachers have received gender-based training in human anatomy, physiology, psychology and classroom methodology.

He said the boys have incrementally started to narrow the gap on the girls.

Blake was educated at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (diploma in primary education), Mico University College (bachelor's degree in school leadership and supervision) and Central Connecticut State University, United States, (master's degree in educational administration).