Effects of gender and social class on dyscalculia among grade six pupils in Harare

The study investigated the effects of gender and social class on grade six pupils with above average IQ but with significant deficits in Mathematics performance (dyscalculia). Ten to twelve year old pupils (N = 60) with dyscalculia and a normally achieving (NA) comparison group (N = 68) of pupils of above average performance in Mathematics were administered the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (1984) Level I Arithmetic Subtest. Significant gender differences in achievement which favoured males were observed in the criterion group, but not in the comparison group. No significant social class differences in the performance of pupils with dyscalculia were found. Social class was found to have a significant effect on mathematics achievement in the NA group. Results favoured the high social class. The demographic variables of gender and social class thus tend to have some important implications for mathematics education.

A ZBTE study on the effects of gender on dyscalculia among Grade Six pupils in Zimbabwe.