Our teenage students are world beaters

By GREGG WYCHERLEY

New Zealand teenagers are among the world's best at reading, maths and science, the first results of a major international survey show.

New Zealand students ranked third in both literacy and maths and sixth in science - well above the OECD average in all three subjects.

The survey of 265,000 students in 31 countries - the first major study of its kind - was carried out last year by the Programme for International Student Assessment, run by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

It was the first of a continuous three-yearly series designed to assess the ability of 15-year-olds in their final year of compulsory schooling to apply their knowledge and skills in reading, maths and science to everyday problems.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the survey was a great result for New Zealand overall, but also showed areas that needed improvement.

"Teachers, principals, boards of trustees, parents and the myriad other unsung heroes who are playing their part in putting our education system on the world map can feel proud today."

But while a large number of students were performing at the top of the scale, the report showed that too many were being left behind.

"As a country, we must maintain the high standards that our top students achieve and lift the rates of achievement among those at the lower end of the scale."

Mr Mallard said the Government would continue to work to reduce disparities through policies such as increasing the numbers of specialist literacy teachers available to support schools, providing high-quality resource material and increasing school operation grants.

"It is also why we have such a big focus on improving access to quality early childhood education, the minister said.

"More and more research is showing us that investment in early childhood education makes a huge difference to achievement levels later in life."

In reading literacy - the ability to understand, use and reflect on written texts - New Zealand came third out of 31 countries after Finland and Canada.

Australia ranked fourth.

In mathematical literacy - the ability to recognise, formulate and solve mathematical problems - New Zealand was third, with Japan ranking first, followed by Korea.

Australia ranked fifth after Finland.

In scientific literacy - the ability to acquire and use scientific knowledge - New Zealand ranked sixth, ahead of Australia, which ranked seventh.

About 5000 to 10,000 students in each country underwent two-hour tests, combined with a series of questionnaires for school principals and students to provide background information about school and student characteristics.

The Alliance's education spokeswoman, Dr Liz Gordon, said the survey results were testament to the efficiency of the New Zealand education system but were no cause for complacency.

"New Zealand's got a really good education system for about 80 per cent of its students, the best in the world probably."

However, there was still a group of underachievers, mainly Maori and Pacific Island students, who had been suspended or expelled or had dropped out by the age of 15.

"New Zealand's education system has actually got worse, not because the best have got worse but because the worst have got worse."

Act education spokeswoman Donna Awatere Huata said the survey results were positive but a lot of work was still needed to bridge the wide divide in achievement.

"By all means let's lift the achievements of the top achievers, but unless we drag up the bottom achievers, being third in the world is nothing," she said.

"What I want to know on this test is did Maori improve, because that to me is the measure of how well we are doing."

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