Figures issued yesterday by the State Examinations Commission show that girls have once again outperformed boys in the State exams, scoring better results in all Junior Cert core subjects at both higher and ordinary level.
Some 1,000 more girls than boys scored an A in higher-level Irish and 83.6 per cent of girls got honours in the exam compared with 74.1 per cent of boys.
In higher-level English, the gap is even wider, with 83.8 per cent of girls getting honours, but just 70.5 per cent of boys, and more than double the number of girls getting As.
While boys mature later than girls, a poor example set by male role models is largely responsible for the results, according to the ASTI president, Mr Pat Cahill.
"The laddish culture promoted by the media and in advertising doesn't lend itself to studying, and having a role model of the Taoiseach, who is a bit of a lad and fond of the birds and the beer, doesn't help."
The discoveries of tribunals had thrown out the idea that education was the way to success, and had shown that being a "cute hoor" was more profitable, he added.
"Unless better role models emerge, this gap will widen."
While the results in higher-level maths are closer, 81.3 per cent of girls and 77.4 per cent of boys achieving A, B or C grades, girls are still doing better in what was traditionally held to be a "boys' subject".
The figures also show that more girls choose to sit higher-level exams, but where they do opt for ordinary level, they are more likely to pass or get higher marks than boys.
Some 4.1 per cent of boys fail ordinary-level Irish compared with 1.7 per cent of girls.
In English 1.5 per cent of boys fail compared with 0.5 per cent of girls.
Maths has the highest failure rate at ordinary level, with 9.1 per cent of boys and 6.3 per cent of girls obtaining an E grade or below.
While the figures were worrying, the Teachers' Union of Ireland president, Mr John MacGabhann, said, they didn't come as a surprise.
"These sorts of result are almost routine now.
"It is regrettable, not that girls perform so well, but that there is this persistent problem with the performance of boys."
