Live politics blog Dec 4
NZ education results fall in international tests
New Zealand has recorded its worst ever results in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests of reading, maths and science, RNZ is reporting.
For the 81 countries and economies that participated in the tests, average scores dropped significantly in maths (17 points) and reading (11 points) and slightly in science (4 points) since the previous round of tests in 2018.
Considering only the 37 nations of the OECD that participated, average performance suffered a record drop equivalent to about three-quarters of a year of learning in maths and half a year in reading.
The OECD's PISA report said the Covid-19 pandemic was partly to blame for the poor results.
New Zealand's scores were above the OECD averages in all three subjects, though only just so for maths.
Among all 81 participants, this country ranked 10th in reading, 11th in science and 23rd in maths.
In New Zealand, average scores in the PISA dropped 15 points in maths to 479 points, science and reading scores fell 4-5 points to 504 and 501 points, and the gap between rich and poor students grew.
The PISA programme is a three-yearly survey - delayed by a year this time because of Covid - of 15-year-old students around the world that "assesses the extent to which they have acquired key knowledge and skills essential for full participation in social and economic life".
In New Zealand, average scores in the PISA dropped 15 points in maths to 479 points, science and reading scores fell 4-5 points to 504 and 501 points, and the gap between rich and poor students grew.
The PISA programme is a three-yearly survey - delayed by a year this time because of Covid - of 15-year-old students around the world that "assesses the extent to which they have acquired key knowledge and skills essential for full participation in social and economic life".