January 11 2024- New Zealand teens’ performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, covering reading, writing, and math, has shown a decline, with various issues coming to light. The average scores for 15-year-olds dropped by 15 points in math to 479 points, and science and reading scores fell by 4-5 points to 504 and 501 points, respectively. Factors contributing to the decline included problems such as phones, hunger, and inadequate teaching. Despite the decrease, New Zealand still ranked in the top 10-11 nations for reading and science and in the middle for math. The global context of the COVID-19 pandemic was cited as a significant factor in the overall decline in student performance across many countries. The PISA assessment also incorporated surveys of students and principals to gather insights into background factors in schools.
Student hunger, bad teachers revealed in latest PISA tests showing dip in NZ teens’ scores.
Updated on January 11, 2024