DGAP-News: East Asian Countries Lead Achievement in

IEA 

11.12.2012 10:00
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Achievement Results for IEA's 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and
Science Study (TIMSS) and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study
(PIRLS) 

AMSTERDAM, 2012-12-11 10:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Students from Singapore, Korea, and Hong Kong were top performers in fourth
grade mathematics, followed by Chinese Taipei and Japan, according to results
released today by IEA and the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at
Boston College. In fourth grade science, top-performing countries were Korea
and Singapore, followed by Finland, Japan, and the Russian Federation. 

At the eighth grade, Korea, Singapore, and Chinese Taipei led the world in
mathematics achievement. Singapore led the world in science, followed by
Chinese Taipei, Korea, and Japan. 

In reading at the fourth grade, the four top-performing countries were Hong
Kong, the Russian Federation, Finland, and Singapore. 

TIMSS and PIRLS 2011 represent a landmark event--the first time the two renowned
international assessments have been conducted concurrently. In 2011, TIMSS
assessed 600,000 students in 63 countries and 14 benchmarking participants, and
PIRLS assessed 300,000 students in 49 countries and 9 benchmarking
participants. 

TIMSS is assessed every four years, and TIMSS 2011 was the fifth measurement of
trends in mathematics and science achievement at the fourth and eighth grades
since 1995. PIRLS has measured trends in reading comprehension at the fourth
grade every five years since 2001. 

'A number of countries have been working hard to improve their educational
achievement, for example, by redeveloping curricula, raising standards for
teacher certification, or increasing the number of years of schooling,' said
Drs. Ina V.S. Mullis and Michael O. Martin, Executive Directors of the TIMSS &
PIRLS International Study Center. 'It is impressive that so many have been able
to improve student performance since 1995.' 

At the fourth grade, looking at achievement trends over time, there have been
more increases than decreases in overall mathematics, science, and reading
achievement. In comparison, at the eighth grade there was more balance between
achievement growth and decline, particularly in mathematics. 

TIMSS and PIRLS 2011 also show:

  -- Early childhood experiences supporting literacy and numeracy learning, in
     the home and in preschool programs, have strong positive relationships with
     fourth grade mathematics and reading achievement.
  -- Schools that have more affluent student bodies, emphasize academic success,
     are safe and orderly, and have a well-prepared, skillful teaching force can
     positively affect student achievement.
  -- Students' attitudes toward learning have a strong positive relationship
     with mathematics, science, and reading achievement, particularly at the
     fourth grade.

TIMSS and PIRLS are projects of the International Association for the
Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and are directed by the TIMSS &
PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College. 

For more information on TIMSS and PIRLS 2011, including summaries and
international reports, visit http://timssandpirls.bc.edu/data-release-2011/ 

To arrange interviews with IEA Executive Director Hans Wagemaker, contact the
IEA Secretariat, The Netherlands, at +31 20-625-3625. 

To arrange interviews with TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center Executive
Directors Ina V.S. Mullis or Michael O. Martin, contact Chad Minnich at +1
617-552-3122.
News Source: NASDAQ OMX



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Company:      IEA
              
               
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End of Announcement                             DGAP News-Service
 
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DGAP-News: East Asian Countries Lead Achievement in Mathematics, Science, and Reading
