Ask anyone about how Australian students are doing in school and they will likely tell you our results are abysmal and, more importantly, getting progressively worse.

This narrative has been reinforced by sustained reporting within academia and the media. It has only grown with the release of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results on Tuesday evening.

But is this accurate and fair?

This year we independently both published papers looking at Australian students’ results. These papers both reached the same conclusions: students’ scores on the vast majority of standardised assessments were not in decline.

What tests do Australian students do?​

Australian students sit multiple standardised tests. These are tests that are set and scored in a consistent manner. Importantly, scores from one assessment round are statistically “matched” with those from previous rounds, meaning comparisons of average scores over time are possible.

Australian students do NAPLAN in Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9. This is a national test that looks at literacy and numeracy skills.

Australian students also sit several international tests. PISA aims to measure 15-year-old students’ application of knowledge in maths, science and reading.

They also sit Progress in International Reading Literacy Study(PIRLS) which looks at Year 4 students’ reading comprehension skills and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), which assesses maths and science knowledge in the curriculum in Year 4 and Year 8.

NAP-SL measures students’ science literacy in Year 6 and Year 10. NSW students also complete Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development (VALID) assessments in science based on the NSW syllabus in Year 6, Year 8 and Year 10.

Sally’s research​

Sally’s research documented average scores in the four major standardised assessments in which Australia’s students have participated since 1995.

All but one assessment program (PISA) showed improvements or minimal change in average achievement.

In particular, primary school students’ scores in some of the standardised literacy and numeracy tests, including NAPLAN, PIRLS and TIMSS, have notably improved since the start of testing in each program.

For example, for PIRLS, which tests Year 4 reading skills, the average score for Australian students increased from 527 in 2011 to 544 in 2016 and 540 in 2021 (the difference between 2016 and 2021 is negligible).

Since NAPLAN testing began in 2008, average Year 3 reading achievement has increased by the equivalent of a full year’s progress.

In high school, students’ NAPLAN and TIMSS results have stayed largely the same over the same time span.

*NAPLAN cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19
Source: Australian curriculum and reporting authority. Get the data. Created with Datawrapper

Helen’s research​

Helen’s research explores the assumption there is a real and significant decline in Australian students’ achievement in science. It looks at assessments of students’ science literacy, including PISA, TIMSS, NAP-SL and VALID.

NAP-SL has no historical data but between the other three assessments, there is only a decline for PISA.

*TIMSS - Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study
Source: OECD. Get the data. Created with Datawrapper

For both TIMSS and VALID, average scores remain stable, though TIMSS reveals improvements during the period PISA scores appreciably decline. Analysis on PISA scores for NSW public school students also reveals no decline.

*VALID - Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development
Source: NSW Education. Get the data. Created with Datawrapper

What does this mean?​

So when we talk about a “decline” for Australian results, we are really just talking about a decline in PISA results. While these do indeed show a decline, there are other important factors to consider.

First, PISA is one of many assessments taken by Australian students, each providing important but different information about achievement. As 2023 research also shows, PISA receives a lot more attention than other international tests. While there is no definitive reason for this, researchers suggest

the OECD purposefully set out to [give it more attention], branding and marketing the study in such a way to maximise media, public and policy attention.

A 2020 paper also noted the “growing body” of criticism around PISA.

This includes doubts over whether PISA actually measures the quality of education systems and learning, or if it measures something distinct from existing tests.

Comparing scores and ranks is also highly problematic because countries’ scores are not exact. For example, in 2018, Australia’s reading literacy score (503) was considered “not statistically different” from ten other countries, meaning its rank (16th) could potentially be as high as 11 or as low as 21.

Why we should be cautious​

Australia needs to be cautious about an over-reliance on PISA results.

For example, last month a widely publicised report from educational consultancy Learning First called for an overhaul of Australia’s science curriculum. In part, it based its argument on “deeply disturbing trends” around “sliding performance” on declining PISA results.

So we need to be careful about what these results are used for and how they may be used to justify big changes to policy.

Perhaps most importantly, however, is that the decline narrative diminishes and minimises the difficult and amazing work teachers do. While improvement should always be on the agenda, we should also celebrate our wins whenever we can.

This article was first published on The Conversation and was written by Helen Georgiou, Senior Lecturer in Science Education, University of Wollongong, Sally Larsen, Lecturer, University of New England

 

[Ree]

How can this be so?? What happens at VCE (Victoria) when you can get more Wrong than you get Right and still receive a pass. Yep, in Victoria 40% is a pass.

This has obviously flowed through to trade training.
My husband and I are having a new home built and this is becoming very obvious. Despite being in the engineers plans and therefore the contract, the swale drains and silt pits, which we paid for, were NOT put in. Consequently, the slab and brickwork were flooded on two separate occasions. The brickwork on the front of the house was not keyed into the side of the house. "It's being rendered," we were told. " You won't need it." We insisted on these things being done/rectified.
Our daughter, an architect, is having an extension to her home. She has an excellent builder. However, he told us, that his apprentice had no idea what bracing a frame was or how to do it. Apparently, that was not taught at trade school. He knows now. Obviously, the miniature timber house frames of the past, which ensured the apprentice knew all the required practices and systems that went into a building, is not being done any more.

This 'near enough is good enough' attitude has got to GO. Whatever happened to, 'if the job is worth doing, it is worth doing WELL!' This was instilled in myself and my siblings by our father, who was a builder. If things continue in this manner, we will become the laughing stock of the International education system.

Come on Victoria, 40% is NOT a pass. Kids have to learn that there is no such thing as a free ride in life. If you don't put the effort in, you are not going to achieve anything worthwhile. If at first you don't succeed, Try, Try Again. It's all well and to tell kids they can be anything they want to be, without qualifying that first they must put in the hard work. You cannot be a surgeon unless you do the study and training to become one. This goes for any job. Even the checkout servers at the supermarket have to have training before they can start work.

 

[Penny4]

How can this be so?? What happens at VCE (Victoria) when you can get more Wrong than you get Right and still receive a pass. Yep, in Victoria 40% is a pass.

This has obviously flowed through to trade training.
My husband and I are having a new home built and this is becoming very obvious. Despite being in the engineers plans and therefore the contract, the swale drains and silt pits, which we paid for, were NOT put in. Consequently, the slab and brickwork were flooded on two separate occasions. The brickwork on the front of the house was not keyed into the side of the house. "It's being rendered," we were told. " You won't need it." We insisted on these things being done/rectified.
Our daughter, an architect, is having an extension to her home. She has an excellent builder. However, he told us, that his apprentice had no idea what bracing a frame was or how to do it. Apparently, that was not taught at trade school. He knows now. Obviously, the miniature timber house frames of the past, which ensured the apprentice knew all the required practices and systems that went into a building, is not being done any more.

This 'near enough is good enough' attitude has got to GO. Whatever happened to, 'if the job is worth doing, it is worth doing WELL!' This was instilled in myself and my siblings by our father, who was a builder. If things continue in this manner, we will become the laughing stock of the International education system.

Come on Victoria, 40% is NOT a pass. Kids have to learn that there is no such thing as a free ride in life. If you don't put the effort in, you are not going to achieve anything worthwhile. If at first you don't succeed, Try, Try Again. It's all well and to tell kids they can be anything they want to be, without qualifying that first they must put in the hard work. You cannot be a surgeon unless you do the study and training to become one. This goes for any job. Even the checkout servers at the supermarket have to have training before they can start work.

It's difficult to find a decent tradesman these days. Pride and job satisfaction seem to be non-existent with them.

 

[MariaG]

Love her, or hate her. Some years ago Pauline Hanson predicted that we would end up with problems if the training programs were not improved upon for tradies. All trades are below the mark now because the way kids are taught has changed drastically.

Where they used to have face to face teaching, many courses are predominantly carried out in front of a computer screen. There was a time when some TAFES would get hold of an old bomb car and involve the apprentice trades in doing it up. Some of the things they did were amazing back in the day.

My grandson is in year 12 and aiming to become a mechanic. He is not averse to furthering his education in university, but he likes working with cars and, with guidance from his dad, is fixing up his first car bit by bit. Apart from having dad on tap, a lot of what he does relies on the internet. That seems to be the future.

So, I said to him, kid you are really good at what you do. I like the way you work things out and fix rather than buy replacements. If you want to make a good living, or even start your own business, take your training seriously, and. if offered, listen to advise offered by veteran mechanics who came up the ranks the old fashioned way. Find out what it means to practice perfection of your trade. They will line up at your door if you prove yourself a reliable and knowledgeable tradie.

Its not all about money. My gorgeous boy likes doing things properly ... so, I have no doubt he will find the best job in the world ... the one he loves. How good would that be.

 

[Jest]

the teachers can't even spell and teach the correct things. too busy on climate change, Palestinians. should be about the ww2 but, i guess they do not know about that.

 

[goatwhisperer]

Nothing like having capable teachers, who love to not only learn themselves but teach well. Our eldest daughter is a school teacher ( assistant principal) at a primary school. They have a big job and don't get paid enough for the hours they put in, including weekends. She is close to burnout and looking at changing her career after teaching for 25 years.
The pass rate to get in to University doing a Bachelor of Education is not very high. Train monkeys you get peanuts. Unless someone's passion is to be a teacher, they will choose to go into a higher paid job. Education of children is a three way process, the child, the parents and the teacher. Many parents just want to sit back and think it's not their job for a child to be educated well..

 

[Ree]

Nothing like having capable teachers, who love to not only learn themselves but teach well. Our eldest daughter is a school teacher ( assistant principal) at a primary school. They have a big job and don't get paid enough for the hours they put in, including weekends. She is close to burnout and looking at changing her career after teaching for 25 years.
The pass rate to get in to University doing a Bachelor of Education is not very high. Train monkeys you get peanuts. Unless someone's passion is to be a teacher, they will choose to go into a higher paid job. Education of children is a three way process, the child, the parents and the teacher. Many parents just want to sit back and think it's not their job for a child to be educated well..

I was a teacher for 35 years before retiring at the beginning of 2020. Over those years I saw the standard of students spelling, reading and comprehension drop drastically. Students seemed to get lazy; not wanting to read test questions that were more than a sentence in length and, as far as writing an answer in a sentence, oh, dear! Many a time I had to tell students that they were not sending a text message when writing an essay. As well as the academic decline there was also an attitude decline..............."what would you know? You're JUST a teacher." "You're JUST a teacher, you don't have any rights!"

 

[Knell]

^...and yet, the generations are more educated than baby boomers. Demographics have and will always have an impact on education. But the stats show overall higher education levels are being achieved.