Tasmanian 15-year-olds are the country’s worst performing students in maths, science and reading, and are well below international averages according to a report released by the Australian Council for Education Research.
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The report PISA 2015: A first look at Australia’s results, related to testing undertaken by more than 14,000 Australians from 750 schools for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
In total more than half a million students from more than 70 countries took part in the 2015 assessment, which measured how well 15-year-olds from across the globe are prepared to use their knowledge and skills in science, reading and mathematics to meet real-life challenges.
Overall Australia performed equal 10th in science, equal 12th in reading and equal 20th in mathematics.
When those findings are broken down into state-by-state figures it is shown that the highest achievers in Australia, Year 9 students in the Australian Capital Territory, are ahead of Tasmanian students by about 18-months in science and a year in maths.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said PISA results were extremely disappointing, and demonstrate why change is needed to improve the state’s education system.
“The Hodgman Liberal Government has a long-term plan for education by replacing a 20-year-old Education Act that no longer reflects contemporary practices and research. We are targeting our investment in identified areas to improve our education results, which includes committing a record $6 billion over the forward estimates of the budget into education and training to fund improvements and ‘the full Gonski’, extending more high schools to year 12, employing more teachers, teacher assistants and support staff, school nurses and specialists, funding infrastructure upgrades where required, and most importantly, giving access to more quality play-based early education for all Tasmanian children.”
Mr Rockliff said specialist literacy and numeracy teachers has been introduced into high schools, and the national Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics School Education Strategy was implemented.
He said the voluntary six month earlier starting age would also bring Tasmania into line with other states and territories.
Holly Monery
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
