There is more startling proof that Kiwi students are not keeping pace with the world on core education achievement.

You may recall the OECD’s last assessment programme, PISA, had our 15 year olds recording their lowest scores ever. Maths, reading and science.

And now that’s been backed up by another sobering global assessment, the Trends in International Maths and Science Study. This performance ranks nine year olds and 13 year olds across 64 countries.  And New Zealand has just recorded our worst ever results, particularly with our Year 9s. 

The Education Ministry’s Chief Science Adviser is expressing surprise and is calling for more specialist teaching at the primary level.

We have bombed big time in biology, statistics, algebra and chemistry. But the primary school indicators are a huge concern too. Our Year 5s are ranked 40^th in the world in maths and 32^nd in science.  At the Year 9 level, it’s the magnitude of our plunge down the performance rankings that should be alarming educators.

Meanwhile, Singapore swept the pool, across all subjects and age groups.

Just as a point of comparison, as to how far we have dropped off the pace, here’s one example.

In science, only eight percent of our Year 9 students reached the advanced benchmark. In Singapore, 48 percent of students cracked that benchmark of excellence.

But this international test has also exposed some obvious home truths. Yes, a child’s family environment had the biggest impact on achievement across all countries.

But Kiwi students who attended schools that emphasised academic success over the vast array of feel good follies performed considerably better. 

• Kiwi kids slide further in maths and science

Please tell me that no one is genuinely surprised by that?

Our sub-standard rankings are clearly not helped by the ongoing supply shortage of specialist maths and science teachers. Learning online is absolutely no replacement for in-person learning.

But is there the political will to walk the talk on the importance of academic achievement? 

For all the talk about educational well-being, academic achievement is the only real measure that really counts. That’s if we want to stop hobbling our pursuit of higher living standards.