Gender disparity in education has usually been experienced as disadvantaging girls. Now a new phenomenon of boys underachievement both in terms of participation and performance is appearing in a number of countries.This book reviews the research on boy s underachievement and presents the arguments that have been put forward to understand its causes. The authors also present new studies from Australia, Jamaica, Lesotho and Samoa; and they use both the research and the evidence from the case studies to explore the causes and policy implications of the trend the first time a truly cross-regional approach has been applied to the issue.This book will interest all education policy makers and analysts concerned to ensure gender equality in school education."