Students Performing Well in Reading, Math, Science International Assessments

Nova Scotia students continue to perform above the international average in reading, mathematics and science, according to the latest assessment results.

The 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), released today, Dec. 7, measured the student achievement of 15-year-olds in 65 countries, including Canada and each of the 10 provinces.

Nova Scotia's best showing was in reading, placing 13th in the world. Nova Scotia students also improved on the national stage, rising from the lower third among provinces to fifth in each of the three subject areas.

"Our students are again demonstrating that they are among the best in the world, faring well against many of their counterparts in the United States, U.K. and much of Europe," said Education Minister Marilyn More. "I congratulate students and teachers and encourage them, and boards, to keep up the good work."

The report found students in Nova Scotia performed at the national average in science, yet below the Canadian average in reading and mathematics.

"While this assessment has a lot of good news for Nova Scotia, we need to do better," said Ms. More. "Our challenge, as always, is to continue to improve within Canada. The financial and enrolment challenges facing our province also underscore the fact that we need to work closely with boards and our other partners to keep ourselves, and our investment in public education, focused on better outcomes for students."

Reading was the main focus of last year's PISA study.

"There was actually little difference statistically between Nova Scotia students and students in other parts of the country in reading," said Vince Warner, director of evaluation services with the Department of Education. "Only two provinces, Alberta and Ontario, significantly outperformed Nova Scotia students."

Within the Nova Scotia results, the study also found:

• girls significantly outperformed boys in reading, while boys outperformed girls in mathematics
• no significant difference in performance between boys and girls in science
• French-language students performed below English-language students in reading and science on average, consistent with other minority language students across the country
• French language students, on average, performed at the same level as English-language students in mathematics.
• Nova Scotia has the smallest gap in average performance between boys and girls in the country, and the second smallest between language groups in achievement

PISA follows the release of the International Baccalaureate results, which showed Nova Scotia's IB students outperformed the world in 21 of 27 subject areas, including mathematics, English, biology and physics.

The 2009 PISA study was administered to 2,133 students at 72 schools in Nova Scotia in April and May 2009. The assessment, conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, can be viewed at http://www.cmec.ca/Programs/assessment/interstudent/Pages/pisa2009.aspx .