The latest global education report card for Australia is what the kids might call a ‘doozy.’
Since 2011, Australia has plunged in international rankings for maths and science, falling from 18th to 28th place in Year 4 maths, 12th to 17th for Year 8 maths and 12th to 17th for Year 8 science.
Many news outlets are noting Kazakhstan has soared past Australia in all four categories. Cyprus and Slovenia have also leapfrogged over us.
Sue Thomson, director of educational monitoring and research at the Australian Council for Education Research, said the results were a “wake-up call” and “Clearly, we have a problem.”
“I think they’re appalling results,” Education Minister Simon Birmingham told ABC radio.
Birmingham said reforms are needed and promised the disappointing results would form a key part of discussions with the states and territories about school funding for 2018 onwards.
