16 October, 2006 - Minister Hanafin welcomes PISA Governing Board to Dublin for first meeting

 "Ireland's participation in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has had many valuable outcomes for Ireland" said Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin T.D., today. The Minister was speaking at a formal dinner in Dublin Castle to mark the first meeting in Dublin of the PISA Governing Board.  "Participation has helped us to identify our strengths while on the other hand it has presented us with challenges we must face if we are to maintain and continue to improve our educational system which has been one of the key elements in the success of our economy in recent years."
 
In Ireland some 3,880 students in 145 schools were assessed in 2003 in reading, mathematics and science, with the major emphasis on reading. The 2006 PISA study took place in March of this year when 15 year olds in 58 countries were assessed, the results of this survey is expected by the end of the year.
 
Minister Hanafin told delegates that in Ireland the proportions of variation in achievement that are attributable to differences between schools were among the lowest in the OECD. "This indicates that schools in Ireland are more similar to one another in terms of average achievement in the key areas of reading, mathematics and science than are schools in most other OECD countries. 

In terms of student performance, the distributions of achievement in Ireland were narrower than in most OECD countries. This indicates that in terms of learning outcomes, there is greater equity between students in Ireland than in most other OECD countries."

 Minister Hanafin went on to say that the outcomes of PISA also present us with a number of challenges. "In reading literacy, Ireland's overall performance was amongst the strongest of the participating countries. While we are clearly very pleased with this outcome we must make every effort to ensure that this position is maintained. In mathematics Ireland?s mean score was not significantly different from the corresponding OECD country average score, indicating average levels of performance in this area."
 
Some key measures have been introduced to respond to the challenges. At primary level a phased introduction of a revised curriculum began in 1999. "Key features of this curriculum include the introduction of a greatly expanded science syllabus and a more pupil-centred, 'hands on' approach to mathematics.

 
At the junior cycle of second level a revised science syllabus was introduced in schools in 2003. This syllabus has an increased emphasis on science process skills and therefore parallels more closely the approach emphasised in PISA than the old syllabus" said Minister Hanafin.
 
The first phase of the NCCA Senior Cycle review includes a revision of syllabuses in English and the three main science subjects - Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Revised syllabuses in mathematics at both junior and senior cycle are also envisaged. "The work in all of these subject areas is being informed by our experience of the PISA assessment in 2000 and 2003."

 The Minister also pointed to other initiatives to encourage outcomes, including Maths Week, taking place this week, which promotes an understanding, awareness and appreciation of mathematics.  In November, hundreds of events take place during National Science Week, where the focus this year is on new science and emerging technologies.

Minister Hanafin wished the delegates attending the three day meeting in Dublin every success with their work agenda and thanked all those Principal?s  of the schools who participated in PISA 2006.  "Without each of the 145 schools help and participation it would not have been possible to implement the programme successfully here in Ireland."

 ENDS