Survey finds schoolgirls less confident and calm than boys despite being happier at school

A report on the confidence and peace of mind of girls has raised concerns, even as they do well in school. The Student Well Being Pulse Report 2025-26 has been released jointly by the IC3 Institute and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The survey, conducted among 8,515 students across the country, has raised serious questions about the emotional state of children in schools.

According to the report, girls are reported to be happier at school than boys. About 62 per cent of girls said they are always happy at school, against 58 per cent of boys. But when it comes to confidence, motivation and peace of mind, the picture becomes far more worrying.

The gap in confidence is clear. Only 52 per cent of girls said they often or always feel confident in themselves, compared with 64 per cent of boys. Most worrying, 22 per cent of girls said they never feel confident in themselves. Among boys, only 14 per cent said so.

The same gap shows in peace of mind and motivation. Only 42 per cent of girls often or always feel calm and free of stress, against 53 per cent of boys. Some 28 per cent of girls said they can rarely stay calm, while the share among boys was 22 per cent. Girls who always feel motivated to do any task make up 55 per cent, against 61 per cent of boys.

Along with fewer positive feelings, girls are also struggling more with negative ones. According to the report, 33 per cent of girls are often or always anxious, against 23 per cent of boys. Similarly, 36 per cent of girls said they often feel despondent, while the figure for boys is 28 per cent.

The survey also found more complaints of low energy and persistent sadness among girls. Overall, the report suggests that despite being happy at school, a large number of girls are going through a lack of confidence, calm and spirit within.