SASKATOON – Saskatchewan students ranked higher in three key subjects among the provinces, according to results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012.
“While this is just one measure, it is encouraging to see Saskatchewan students improving,” said Don Morgan, Saskatchewan’s education minister.
Math, reading and science results from 15-year-old students around the world were released Monday by the Organisation for Economic and Co-operative Development (OECD).
Sixty-five countries and all Canadian provinces participated in the PISA assessment during the spring of 2012.
Overall, Canada placed 13th in mathematics, ninth in reading and tenth in science.
Since 2003, Canadian math results have decreased on a statistically significant basis. This trend was observed in every province except Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan students now rank fifth nationally in mathematics, up from sixth place in the 2009 assessment.
As for reading and science, although Canada continues to perform well internationally, its standing has slipped slightly.
According to the report, even a minor decrease in performance may be an indication of potential loss of future competitiveness in a global economy.
Nationally, Saskatchewan ranked fourth in science and also moved up one position in reading to sixth place over the previous PISA.
Saskatchewan was above the OECD average and below the Canadian average in all three subjects.
“In Saskatchewan we are joining together to develop an education sector vision and plan but the real leg work is happening at the local level in 28 school divisions across this province,” said Janet Foord, president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.
Around 1,900 Saskatchewan students from 86 schools were part of the 2012 assessment. The province has participated in all five PISAs since it began in 2000.
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