Gender imbalance

More girls than boys are gaining university entrance qualifications and the result is that a growing number of tertiary students are female, says National MP Bill English.

The party's education spokesman said his figures showed that of those who gained university entrance, 57.2 per cent were girls and 42.8 per cent boys. "These differences are so stark they cannot be swept under the carpet. I look forward to education experts explaining the large difference between the achievement of boys and girls in NCEA."