Even with such students` dismal performance in the subject, female students have had lower
achievement as compared to male students at national mathematics examinations in Kenya.
For instance in the year 2007, girls obtained an average of 15.74 % while boys had 23.10 %
(KNEC, 2009). Such an underachievement has been attributed to, gender biased mathematics
text books, competitive modes of assessment in favor of boys, cultural view of mathematics
as a male domain, lack of positive female role models in mathematics and modes of teaching
that are individualistic or competitive, as opposed to being co-operative (Githua, 2002 ;
Ndimbirwe, 1995; Agwagah and Harbour-Peters 1994).