Province shows significant gains in international testing program

Education Minister Tom Hedderson announced today that the results of the 2003 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show significant advances in Newfoundland and Labrador's educational standing, both nationally and internationally.

"The 2003 PISA assessment demonstrates that students in Newfoundland and Labrador are now performing at the Canadian average in reading and science," the minister said. "Our mathematics scores have also improved significantly. While we are not quite yet at the Canadian average, no province saw a greater improvement in mathematics than Newfoundland and Labrador."

Minister Hedderson noted that Canada is consistently among the top-performing countries in the world. With Newfoundland and Labrador performing at, or near, the Canadian average in all testing areas, students from this province are therefore among the top-performing students in the world.

In terms of our performance in relation to other Canadians, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are now fifth in Canada in reading, up from ninth in 2000. The province placed fifth in science, up from seventh, and our improved performance in mathematics saw this province move to sixth from ninth place in the country. Newfoundland and Labrador also led the Atlantic Provinces in all testing areas.

"This is excellent news for all of us who care about education in this province," Minister Hedderson said. "Meanwhile, we recognize these kinds of assessments do not measure everything that is happening in our schools. We know that learning is more than just test results. However, these results measure the skills and knowledge that individuals bring to their post-secondary studies, to their jobs and to society. They tell us that students in Newfoundland and Labrador are receiving an excellent education that prepares them to meet the challenges of the global marketplace."

The minister cited several key factors which can be credited for this demonstrated improvement. For the past several years, the Department of Education has had a renewed focus on assessment for the purpose of improving student achievement. As a part of this process, follow-up with schools and school districts and extensive teacher involvement has resulted in more effective use of test results for instructional planning and greater attention to the details of the curriculum much of which has been reformed and improved in recent years.

"This improvement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of educators throughout the province. Their diligence has produced results which instill confidence in our education system. While there are still areas for us to improve, I look forward to PISA 2006, knowing that we have professional educators and administrators with the dedication and expertise to help our students achieve the next goal - that is, to be the very best in both Canada and the world."

To view more details please see the Department of Education Web site at www.gov.nl.ca/edu

High resolution graphics are available below:

• Colour (PDF)
• Greyscale (PDF)

Media contact: Lynn Salter, Communications, (709)729-0048 or (709)685-5000

PISA
BACKGROUNDER

Newfoundland and Labrador's standing has improved substantially, both internationally and nationally, since the last PISA assessment in 2000.

Internationally - Canada's performance leads the G8 Countries.
(Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, U.K., U.S.)

• Newfoundland and Labrador students achieved significantly above the international average in reading, mathematics and science.
• Our students achieved at the Canadian average in reading, which was second in the world.
• Our students performed at the Canadian average in science, which was fifth in the world.
• While not yet at the Canadian average in mathematics, Newfoundland and Labrador performed better than most G8 countries.
• Of the G8 countries, only Japan performed better than Newfoundland and Labrador in science.

Nationally - Our placement in Canada has improved substantially since PISA 2000.
(Note: Canada is consistently among the top performers in the world)

• Reading: 5th in Canada (from 9th)
• Mathematics: 6th in Canada (from 9th)
• Science 5th in Canada (from 7th)

Ministerial Statement - Programme for International Student Assessment

2004 12 07                       9:30 a.m.