Girls are outshining boys in almost every field. The CBSE results are a case in point, if one were to compare the pass percentages. Some feel that girls are more sincere and hardworking, while boys are wasters. This may be an extreme view. A section of school teachers, however, differ. They say that boys have several distractions, some of these positive. Their general awareness (and knowledge) is often better than the schoolgirls, who are more bookish. Boys often know more about sports and politics. Girls, some feel, are suited to do well in the Indian examination system, which relies more on reproduction (memory), rather than application. An average boy’s application knowledge is perhaps better, which does not reflect well in board exams. These school teachers stress that almost always boys outshine girls, if one were to compare the merit lists of boys and girls. But, girls also know lot more about films and fashion than boys. If boys can fix faulty electric equipment, or leaky tap, girls are good in knitting, sewing and cooking. In fact, an average middle class girl has to work more. She takes care of the household chores with her mother and aunts, while boys fly kites. Families too are biased against a girl’s education, as she is considered to be paraya dhan, who would be married off, elsewhere. Studying is difficult for a girl. Perhaps it’s her survival tool, which makes her more committed and sincere. She knows that if she were to get low marks or fail, her education would be stopped. Boys are not threatened and do not rise up to the challenge. What’s your take: Do girls outshine boys in board examinations?