The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide study of 15-year-old school pupils' performance in mathematics, science, and reading undertaken by the OECD. A closer look at the reading tests (show) the interesting fact girls are outperforming boys in reading and that this is associated with girls' greater enjoyment of reading.
One key area which has a major impact reading performance, is reading for enjoyment rather than simply for study or school work purposes. Interestingly, the PISA study found that in almost all countries assessed, girls read for enjoyment more than boys. In (country) such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands, the difference between boys and girls was most significant. However, in places like Japan, boys and girls read for enjoyment at almost identical level.
What's more, an interesting area which the PISA study looked at was the types of literature that both girls and boys generally enjoy. Boys were found to enjoy reading magazines, newspapers and comic books more than girls. Girls were found to be twice as likely (enjoy) works of fiction as boys.
While reading in all forms is certainly (benefit) and should be encouraged, the low numbers of boys (read) for enjoyment and their (limit) choices when they do, is evidence of an issue that needs to be addressed. Countries need to think about ways to inspire interest for boys in reading and ensure that they (expose) to a wide variety of different types of literature from a young age.
