Asian schoolchildren dominate in reading, math and science

Updated on: Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Asian schoolchildren dominate in reading, math and science, coming in ahead of their peers in Europe and the US, according to an international study released.
 
The tiny city-state of Singapore takes first place in science among 13 and 14 year-olds and math at age 9 or 10, with South Korea scoring nearly as high. Singapore takes second place to South Korea among the older students for math, with Taiwan in third.
 
The results also lean toward Asian nations when it comes to advanced levels of learning. In Singapore, 4 in 10 teenagers who were tested achieved the "advanced benchmark" in science, which requires an understanding of complex and abstract concepts in physics, chemistry, biology and other sciences.
 
About 2 in 10 make the grade in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. In the US, it's about 1 in 10. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and its sister test, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), are used to measure knowledge, skills and mastery of curricula by elementary and middle school students around the world.
 
Students in rich, industrialised nations and poor, developing countries alike are tested. In 2011, 56 educational systems took part in math and science exams. Fifty-three systems participated in the reading exam.
 
The study is conducted every four years in nations around the world. Brookings Institution senior fellow Tom Loveless, who in previous years represented the US in the international group that administers the test said, "These kinds of tests are very good at telling us who's ahead in the race. They don't have a lot to say about causes or why countries are where they are."
 
In the US, children performed better than the global average. Elementary school children have improved their scores in reading and math over the past four years, according to the study. But progress seems to fall off in later grades, where math and science scores are stagnant.
 
US Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who warned the gains among younger children aren't being sustained in later grades, said, "These 2011 international assessments provide both encouraging news about our students' progress and some sobering cautionary notes." 

More Education news

• Karnataka department of higher education to further strengthen protection to women students and employees
• Heads of government and private schools directed to keep a close watch on the behaviour of teachers
• Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions submits his report
• Everyone will be given due representation says Goa CM
• Pune Education Department to hold meetings with schools to ensure a smooth RTE implementation
• Health and Medical Education, Forest and Home departments within the ambit of Public Services Guarantee Act
• 'value education' courses in engineering colleges to inculcate better values and character building
• students challenge new NET gidelines
• Proposed multi crore edu city project nearing completion
• 21 engineering colleges affiliated to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University to seek accreditation
• MBBS and PG medical seats to be increased by 50% and 100% respectively from academic year 2013-14
• M S University's faculty of fine arts mired in controversy over a painting hurting religious sentiment
• IICA inks MoU with Bangalore-based National Law School of India University for forging academic partnership
• President asks private players to contribute in improving the standards of higher education
• First technical and medical university at picturesque Apatani Plateau in lower Subansiri district
• Prayas scheme to be extended to 4 more districts
• Jamia Millia Islamia Professor gets Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship
• Japans new government will not waive tution fee to pro-Pyongyang high schools
• Most Israeli high school students found accessing Mobile phone during class hours
• UGC notifies the procedure and criteria for declaration of result for NET to be conducted on 30.12.12