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Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement

In Malaysia, while the achievement gap between rural and urban schools is flattening over time, the gender achievement gap is widening. This study therefore re-examines the phenomenon of “Lost Boys” using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS. Gender differences...

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Main Author: Sarimah Surianshah,
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2022
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/21392/1/Who%20Gains%20from%20Class%20Size%20Reduction%20Another%20Look%20at%20Malaysia%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9CLost%20Boys.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/21392/
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spelling my-ukm.journal.213922023-03-27T00:40:37Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/21392/ Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement Sarimah Surianshah, In Malaysia, while the achievement gap between rural and urban schools is flattening over time, the gender achievement gap is widening. This study therefore re-examines the phenomenon of “Lost Boys” using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS. Gender differences in disruptive behaviour and disciplinary challenges may widen boy-girl academic performance difference and, if so, differential exposure to crowded classrooms can play a role. Alongside other hypothesis, therefore, we specifically explore the gender differentiated effects of class sizes on student achievement. Methodologically, we employ the two-step least squares and quantile regression methods. Findings show that decrease in class size statistically does not have a positive effect on student scores in mathematics and science regardless of gender. If anything, there is evidence that only high-achieving female students particularly from urban schools and advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds may benefit from reduction in class size incentive. While improving the quality of current teachers and certain school infrastructure such as school buildings, lightning systems, and classrooms as well as granting teacher incentives appears to improve boys’ achievement scores, on the balance, it is unlikely that the boy-girl difference in maths and science test scores in Malaysia can be primarily explained by school level factors. We conclude by discussing alternative explanations related to our findings on class size as well as other cost-effective policy responses and non-school factors to tackling the “Lost Boys” phenomenon. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2022 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/21392/1/Who%20Gains%20from%20Class%20Size%20Reduction%20Another%20Look%20at%20Malaysia%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9CLost%20Boys.pdf Sarimah Surianshah, (2022) Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement. Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, 56 (3). pp. 119-143. ISSN 0127-1962 https://ejournals.ukm.my/jem/
institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
building Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/
language English
description In Malaysia, while the achievement gap between rural and urban schools is flattening over time, the gender achievement gap is widening. This study therefore re-examines the phenomenon of “Lost Boys” using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS. Gender differences in disruptive behaviour and disciplinary challenges may widen boy-girl academic performance difference and, if so, differential exposure to crowded classrooms can play a role. Alongside other hypothesis, therefore, we specifically explore the gender differentiated effects of class sizes on student achievement. Methodologically, we employ the two-step least squares and quantile regression methods. Findings show that decrease in class size statistically does not have a positive effect on student scores in mathematics and science regardless of gender. If anything, there is evidence that only high-achieving female students particularly from urban schools and advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds may benefit from reduction in class size incentive. While improving the quality of current teachers and certain school infrastructure such as school buildings, lightning systems, and classrooms as well as granting teacher incentives appears to improve boys’ achievement scores, on the balance, it is unlikely that the boy-girl difference in maths and science test scores in Malaysia can be primarily explained by school level factors. We conclude by discussing alternative explanations related to our findings on class size as well as other cost-effective policy responses and non-school factors to tackling the “Lost Boys” phenomenon.
format Article
author Sarimah Surianshah,
spellingShingle Sarimah Surianshah,
Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement
author_facet Sarimah Surianshah,
author_sort Sarimah Surianshah,
title Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement
title_short Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement
title_full Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement
title_fullStr Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement
title_full_unstemmed Who gains from class size reduction? Another look at Malaysia’s “Lost Boys Phenomenon” in student achievement
title_sort who gains from class size reduction? another look at malaysia’s “lost boys phenomenon” in student achievement
publisher Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
publishDate 2022
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/21392/1/Who%20Gains%20from%20Class%20Size%20Reduction%20Another%20Look%20at%20Malaysia%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9CLost%20Boys.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/21392/
https://ejournals.ukm.my/jem/
_version_ 1761617600407666688
score 13.211869

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