Australian Year 4 students have achieved their best ever result in an international maths and science assessment.
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is a four-yearly sample study of Year 4 and Year 8 students assessing mathematics and science.
Both Year 4 and Year 8 students are performing above the international average in both subjects.
For these Year 4 students their first years of schooling occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the study, out of 58 countries participating in Year 4 and 44 countries in Year 8:
- In Year 4 science, Australia is equal 5th internationally (equal 9th in 2019)
- In Year 4 maths, Australia is equal 15th internationally (equal 23rd in 2019)
- In Year 8 science, Australia is equal 8th internationally (equal 7th in 2019)
- In Year 8 maths, Australia is equal 9th internationally (equal 7th in 2019)
The assessment was conducted late last year with 5,470 Year 4 students from 283 schools and 8,442 Year 8 students from 276 schools participating across the country.
Internationally, about 359,000 students from 12,000 schools across 58 countries took part in the Year 4 study, and 297,000 students from 8700 schools across 44 countries took part in the Year 8 study.
Singaporean students were frontrunners in both years and both disciplines.
In Australia, non-government and government schools from major cities, and regional and remote areas in all states and territories were selected to take part.
The study again highlights the education gaps that exist for First Nations, regional, remote and low-SES students.
The TIMSS report can be found here.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
"This is a positive result for participating students and a reflection of their hard work.
"It's also a testament to the incredible work of teachers and parents across the country.
"These results highlight that we have a good education system in this country, but that it can be better and fairer.
"That's why we want to invest more money in our public schools and tie that funding to practical reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school."
