IN the recent Wirral Globe School Awards (May 25), it is noticeable that hardly any awards were given to men or boys.

This is hardly surprising when we realise that teaching is a profession dominated by women – only 14% of primary teachers are men.

In any other branch of society such a gender imbalance would be the source of strong and profuse comments and action, but, despite recent statistics that show boys' attainments to be lower than girls', no one appears to care that boys (and girls) are being subjected to a lifetime of education from a female- only perspective.

What effect this has on our young men in the longer term can only be guessed.

In order to make a start to achieve balance, it would have set a good example if, in these awards, more recognition had been given to male teachers and pupils as a sign of encouragement.

Much is said about equality, but when it is the men and boys who suffer, it seems that little is done to address the imbalance.

Kenneth J Burnley by email