Irish teens: Top readers, okay at science and maths

IRISH teenagers are among the world’s best readers, but are only just above average in science and average at maths, according to the latest international research.

The findings of the 2006 Performance for International Student Assessment (PISA) rank Irish 15-year-olds fifth among 29 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and sixth among the 56 countries whose students were measured in tests a year ago.

According to the Department of Education, Irish students are 14th at science in the OECD and 20th of all countries which took part, with average scores placing us above the OECD average — but only just.

However, Irish teens were only at the international average in maths, coming 16th within the OECD and 22nd when compared with all other countries.

While Education Minister Mary Hanafin said the results were encouraging, she acknowledged that they present challenges for developing the education experience of Irish students.

The focus of the latest tests, carried out every three years, was on the science tests in which Irish students maintained their position from previous PISA rankings.

However, hi-tech employers expressed disappointment that there was no improvement since 2003.

“Ireland has slipped a place in science, which is disappointing,” said Kathryn Raleigh, director of IBEC group ICT Ireland.

“The report questions whether our achievements in maths could be improved by a greater take-up of higher-level maths. We have called for the reintroduction of bonus points for the subject, as a means of boosting its attractiveness to students,” she said.