IRISH nine-year-olds rank between sixth and ninth place in international league tables of proficiency in maths and science, according to a major study of 26 countries.
Some 165 Irish primary schools and 5,762 pupils participated in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, whose results were published in the United States yesterday. The pupils tested were in third and fourth classes.
The maths tests were designed to measure pupils' knowledge in six areas: whole numbers; fractions and proportionality; measurement, estimation and number sense; data representation, analysis and probability; geometry; and patterns, relations and functions.
The four science areas tested were earth science; life science; physical science and environmental issues; and the nature of science.
Irish fourth-class pupils came sixth in maths among the 17 countries which satisfied various sampling criteria. They performed at about the same level as US pupils and significantly better than their counterparts in Scotland (in 9th place), England (10th place), Norway, New Zealand, Greece, Portugal and Iceland.
However, they were well below pupils from Singapore (in first place), Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and the Czech Republic.
In specific content areas, they were stronger in fractions and proportionality and data representation analysis and probability. They were weaker in measurement, estimation and number sense, and in geometry.
Irish third-class pupils came seventh in maths among 16 countries satisfying the sampling criteria. Their levels when compared to the other countries surveyed were approximately the same as the fourth-class Irish pupils, although this time the Koreans beat the children from Singapore into second place.
Again they were stronger on fractions and proportionality and weaker on measurement, estimation and number sense. Irish third-class girls were better than boys at geometry.
In science, the Irish fourth-class pupils ranked eighth, with Korea again first, Japan second, the US third, and England fifth.
The Irish pupils performed better in environmental issues and the nature of science, but worse in physical science. Irish boys did better than the girls in earth science.
The Irish third-class pupils came ninth in science, with Korea, Japan and the United States again heading the field, and England coming fourth. Again they were better at environmental issues and worse at physical science.