Girls and Mathematics: The New Math Program

Currently, in the Netherlands, the subject of mathematics is a topic of great interest. There has been a mathematical curriculum change in general secondary education at the highest level (grammar school). The new curriculum consists of two programs, math A and math B. Pupils can choose one or both of these programs. Math A is designed to make mathematics more appealing and life-like thus attracting more students, especially girls, to choose math and to acquire more positive attitudes toward the subject. Math A prepares students for study in humanities and economics. Math B is a traditional math program that prepares students for study in science, technics, agriculture, and medicine. This paper reports the first results of the effect of the new curriculum on both boys' and girls' choices of mathematics programs and on their attitudes toward math.