Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/671725
3 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 27 APRIL 2016 News MALTA 14.5x18cm ING.pdf 1 19/04/16 16:45 JAMES DEBONO A report suggests that males are better than females at solving "cognitively demanding" math- ematical questions. This contrasts with educational data showing females outper- forming males in subjects like lan- guages and in getting qualifica- tions to continue a post secondary education. The study commissioned by the MATSEC Examinations Board is based on a 2015 exam papers aimed to assess whether questions favour a particular gender. In 2015, male candidates out- performed female candidates in most questions in the Maths 'O' level examination. In nearly half of these questions, the difference was significant. But the report concludes that this finding has to be sustained through further research, both in Mathematics and other subjects, and at this level and other levels. If these were confirmed "there would be numerous questions to ask about the causes and effects of this observation". One question where males sig- nificantly outperformed present- ed candidates with a fictitious situation in which Xandru had to estimate the time taken for two printers printing at different rates to print a certain number of cop- ies. Candidates were expected to convert the information provided into an abstract logical represen- tation. Another question where females were outperformed tested candi- dates' knowledge of algebra and graphs applied to a fictitious sce- nario. The question presented two mobile phone plans to candidates and the needs of Oliver. They were asked to select which plan is best for Oliver, to convert a plan to an algebraic equation, plot it and determine when it is best to use which plan. But no significant differences were noticed in questions which relied on existing knowledge and carrying out calculations in famil- iar situations. Like most other subjects stud- ied at this level, more female than male candidates registered for SEC Mathematics in 2015. The exam included four ques- tions involving named fictitious characters. Two of these are males. The two questions involv- ing named males were questions where a statistically significant difference in favour of male candi- dates was observed. However, ac- cording to the report "it might be over-simplistic to attribute the ad- vantage given to male candidates to this simple fact". Moreover, the equal number of male and female characters suggests no deliberate 'bias' in favour of males. Why are boys better in mathematics? Male candidates outperformed female candidates in most questions in the Maths 'O' level examination Busuttil forwards Gasol's LNG proposal to PN government for NAO investigation OPPOSITION leader Simon Bu- suttil forwarded to the Auditor General a copy of a proposal for the construction of a LNG power station that the previous PN ad- ministration had received and rejected. Busuttil said he wants to pro- vide further information to the NAO in its ongoing investigation into contracts signed by the govern- ment with the Electrogas con- sortium for the construction of the Delimara power plant and a €360 million state guarantee to the consortium. "The documents clearly show that the proposal was very similar to the one that was pro- posed to the La- bour Party during its electoral campaign," Busuttil wrote to auditor general Charles Deguara. He said that similarities include the involvement of GEM Hold- ings and Gasol – the former a shareholder in Electrogas and the latter which was struck off the consortium last July. "Worse than that, the docu- ments indicate that the current power plant specifications were influenced, if not dictated, by the people who had a direct interest in the contract," he said. "I believe that this flies in the face of good governance in the administration of public funds, and I urge you to take this document in considera- tion throughout your investiga- tions of the power station." Busuttil revealed this of- fer for the first time last week dur- ing a no confi- dence motion against the g o v e r n - ment. He said that the i n f o r m a - tion, which he had re- cently received from "high-rank- ing people" within the PN, indicated that Labour had struck a pre-electoral deal with Electrogas and that its expression of interest for the power station was a sham from the start. In a reaction, the Labour Party questioned why Busuttil had waited until now to hand over the document when he had long been calling for an investigation. "Why the afterthought?" the Labour Party questioned, saying that Busuttil had confirmed he knew energy bills could be low- ered but did nothing about it. Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said the current power plant specifications were dictated by the people who had a direct interest in the contract