Finnish youngsters' high score in mathematics surprises experts
|
The high scores in mathematics of Finnish young people in the latest OECD study on student achievement came as a surprise to the experts themselves.
The latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study, involving 250,000 15-year-olds in 41 countries, put a special emphasis on mathematics.
"We had expected a high level in reading skills, but the improvement on the scores in mathematics and sciences from the level they were in 2000 came as a surprise", says Professor Jouni Välijärvi, the head of the Finnish part of the PISA study.
Of all areas surveyed, only students in Hong Kong did slightly better in maths than the Finns.
Finnish youngsters also did well in other areas. Finland came in first in reading skills, and shared the number-one spot in the natural sciences with Japan. In the new category of problem-solving, Finland was second, behind South Korea.
Professor Välijärvi said that it is significant that Finland appears to be challenging Japan and other Asian countries, which have traditionally done very well in mathematics.
Välijärvi attributes the high scores of the Finns partly to the professional skill of Finnish teachers, and partly to the LUMA programme of the 1990s, which was aimed at improving proficiency in maths and the natural sciences.
"It was also gratifying that Finland was successful in the type of broad-based applied mathematics typical of the PISA study, focusing on the needs of further education", Välijärvi noted.
The Finns did best in tasks involving quantitative thinking. Scores were high in other areas as well, although there was some room for improvement in geometry and in measuring skills.
There was little divergence among the scores of the individual Finns, or the individual Finnish schools.
Seven percent of the Finns taking part in the study achieved top scores, while the average among the OECD countries was four percent. With Belgium it was nine percent.
Only four percent of Finns failed to achieve adequate scores. The OECD average was 21%.
In reading skills 15% of the Finns achieved top scores, against an 8% average for the whole OECD.
The proportion of those with both the highest and lowest scores has declined somewhat in three years. Gender differences have also evened out.
Science skills have also risen since 2001.
Commenting on the results of the PISA study, Minister of Education Tuula Haatainen (SDP) said that they give a good reason to help the lowest achievers.
Haatainen said that more resources are needed in basic education if Finland is to maintain the high level that it has now achieved.
The latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study, involving 250,000 15-year-olds in 41 countries, put a special emphasis on mathematics.
"We had expected a high level in reading skills, but the improvement on the scores in mathematics and sciences from the level they were in 2000 came as a surprise", says Professor Jouni Välijärvi, the head of the Finnish part of the PISA study.
Of all areas surveyed, only students in Hong Kong did slightly better in maths than the Finns.
Finnish youngsters also did well in other areas. Finland came in first in reading skills, and shared the number-one spot in the natural sciences with Japan. In the new category of problem-solving, Finland was second, behind South Korea.
Professor Välijärvi said that it is significant that Finland appears to be challenging Japan and other Asian countries, which have traditionally done very well in mathematics.
Välijärvi attributes the high scores of the Finns partly to the professional skill of Finnish teachers, and partly to the LUMA programme of the 1990s, which was aimed at improving proficiency in maths and the natural sciences.
"It was also gratifying that Finland was successful in the type of broad-based applied mathematics typical of the PISA study, focusing on the needs of further education", Välijärvi noted.
The Finns did best in tasks involving quantitative thinking. Scores were high in other areas as well, although there was some room for improvement in geometry and in measuring skills.
There was little divergence among the scores of the individual Finns, or the individual Finnish schools.
Seven percent of the Finns taking part in the study achieved top scores, while the average among the OECD countries was four percent. With Belgium it was nine percent.
Only four percent of Finns failed to achieve adequate scores. The OECD average was 21%.
In reading skills 15% of the Finns achieved top scores, against an 8% average for the whole OECD.
The proportion of those with both the highest and lowest scores has declined somewhat in three years. Gender differences have also evened out.
Science skills have also risen since 2001.
Commenting on the results of the PISA study, Minister of Education Tuula Haatainen (SDP) said that they give a good reason to help the lowest achievers.
Haatainen said that more resources are needed in basic education if Finland is to maintain the high level that it has now achieved.
Helsingin Sanomat