Media Release

Ministry welcomes science report

New Zealand’s education sector can be proud of the OECD report Top of the Class that shows our 15-year olds are among the best in the world in science achievement, the Ministry of Education said today.

Although the original PISA (Progress in Student Achievement) science results were released in December 2007, this latest report takes a closer look at where the top science achievers are in the OECD.

New Zealand is second only to Finland, with 18% of our 15-year-old students in the top achievers’ group. ‘Top performing students’ means able to identify, explain and use science in a variety of situations; and to clearly and consistently use advanced scientific thinking and reasoning.

“Schools can celebrate these results”, said Mary Chamberlain, Group Manager Curriculum Teaching and Learning Design.

“Top of the Class shows that most New Zealand students are in schools with top science performers. It shows there isn’t a ‘gender gap’ between male and female students, which is an improvement on around 10 years ago. The report also tells us what contributes to high science achievement”, Ms Chamberlain said.

“The features shared by top science performers are that they are engaged in learning, confident in their ability to learn, have positive teaching and learning relationships with their teachers, and learn through real-life, relevant experience”, Ms Chamberlain said. “This confirms the findings of our own research and schools’ experience”.

Ms Chamberlain said there are still challenges in science in New Zealand schools. There’s still a wide gap between our highest and lowest performing students, and other reports show that science achievement isn’t so strong in primary schools.

“This is a strong argument for the National Standards to be introduced in primary and intermediate schools next year’, Ms Chamberlain said. “To learn science, students have to be able to read, write and do maths. Getting the basics right will see improvements across the curriculum”.

For more information

Jodi Ihaka
Senior media advisor
Phone: 04-463 8017 or 027-283 6122
Email: jodi.ihaka@minedu.govt.nz