British boys believe reading is 'just for girls': report

According to the 2012 Boys' Reading Commission report British boys are falling behind in studies because of lack of male primary school teachers in the country and the "macho belief" that it is just "for girls".

According to the report almost one in three boys could not find books to interest them, adding this 'gender gap' is widening and the government should recruit male volunteers to pay weekly visits to schools to act as reading role models, the Daily Mail reported.

Around 60,000 boys in Britain failed to reach the expected level in reading 11 years of age last year and at 16, 14 per cent more girls than boys achieved A grades in English exams.

The commission, a joint venture set up by the All-Party Parliamentary Literacy Group and the National Literacy Trust surveyed 226 primary and secondary schools and 21,000 children in the age group of eight to 16.

Around 18 per cent boys thought that someone who reads is boring as against 12.7 per cent girls who thought so and 22 per cent of boys said one who reads was a geek as against 18.5 per cent girls.

As many as 62 per cent of boys said they preferred watching TV to reading and 18 per cent of them believed that reading was 'more for girls' and almost one in three could not find books which could interest them.

The commission's report said that 85 to 90 per cent of teachers in primary schools were women which could play a significant role in boys' perception.

"This can mean reading is perceived as a female pastime and therefore girls are more comfortable with being good at reading and enjoying reading," Jonathan Douglas, of the National Literacy Trust, said.

"Boys' under-achievement in reading is not inevitable. Unless we address it, too many boys will struggle at school and face inequalities throughout life," Douglas said.