Girls are still outperforming boys in GCSE examinations in Northern Ireland,it was revealed tonight - but the gender gap is closing.
As thousands of students prepared to receive their results in the provincetomorrow, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment revealedthat 69 per cent of the 203,777 entries in the province attained A* to C grades.
This was an increase of 0.6 per cent on last year.The top line figure for A grades also rose by 0.8 per cent to 6.9 per cent for 2003.
More girls received A grades than boys, with 8.5% achieving the top gradecompared to 5.2 per cent.
However the gender difference narrowed in the A to C range from 9.5 per cent moregirls in 2002 to 8.8 per cent this year.
Overall entries for GCSE exams in Northern Ireland rose by 0.5 per cent.
The most popular courses remained English, mathematics and science subjects,with Religion and French figuring strongly.
There were also big increases in the number of students taking Spanish (whichrose by 13.9 per cent), information technology (a 13.1 per cent rise), music (up 12.1 per cent) and homeeconomics (11.6 per cent higher).
PA