[ad_1]
– It is gratifying that Norwegian fifth graders continue to do well in math and science. It shows that good work is done with science at the elementary level. At the same time, we see that development can be improved at the lower secondary level. We still have work to do, says the Minister of Education and Integration, Guri Melby.
In mathematics, fifth graders in Russia, Northern Ireland, and England perform better than Norwegians, compared to other European countries.
In science, Norwegian fifth-grade students are among the best in Europe.
Finland tops the list of Nordic countries. It shows a study by TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study), which measures students’ knowledge of mathematics and science.
Target group modified in 2015
– In Norway, there were about 150 schools that participated in this survey, says TIMSS project manager Hege Kaarstein, who is also a researcher at UiO.
TIMSS is held every four years. 64 countries have participated in the study that was carried out in spring 2019.
– The students who participated before went to fourth and eighth grade, these were on average one year younger than the students of the participating countries with whom it is natural to compare ourselves. In 2015, it was decided that they would shift the target group to steps 5 and 9, Kaarstein says.
Hege Kaarstein, Timms Project Manager and UiO Researcher
Photo: Vilde Mikkelsen / NRK
He adds that after they changed the target group, the average age is the same in the Nordic countries, at the time the survey was conducted.
– TIMSS provides us with important information based on research, which helps to strengthen for better learning among Norwegian students, says the director of the Directorate of Education, Hege Nilsen.
The performance of fifth grade students has been stably high since the previous survey four years ago.
– It is experienced as a true bright spot in these crown times. Fifth graders are among the best in mathematics in the Nordic countries, says Minister of Education and Integration Guri Melby.
You have no doubt that Norway has professional and trained teachers.
Less science hours
Norwegian students in upper secondary school have a math average. There they have company with Swedish students. Finnish students make the best of the Nordic countries.
Researchers found a decline in math and science since 2015. The biggest decline is in science.
Here, only Norway has had a decline.
– If we use the same form and estimate a school year, the difference between the Norwegian and Finnish rivers is about two years. That’s a lot, says Kaarstein.
Science is measured in four different themes:
- Geofag
- Physical
- Chemistry
- biology
– The only thing that doesn’t change is geoscience. In the others, we have had a significant decrease, says Kaarstein.
As possible explanations for the fact that ninth-graders are not doing so well, the researchers note that Norway has fewer hours in science than other countries.
Compared to Finland, which has 142 hours of science in upper secondary school, Norway has 88 hours.
Several of the professors teach without specialization in the subject.
– We must follow science at the high school level. We need to find out why we can’t pull up the results here. The researchers will investigate this further and the results will be presented next year, says Melby.
Important with well-being
The survey shows that Norwegian students do better in school than many other countries. There are also no gender differences in the results.
– It is important that students prosper. Then they also learn more. This shows that the learning environments in many schools work well, says Melby.
She emphasizes that science has been an important focus area for the government. She believes schools should have time to implement the new curricula before new measures are considered.
More school hours
Parliamentary Representative Mathilde Tybring-Gjedde, who is an education politician for the Conservative Party, is pleased with the results. But she believes the development of ninth graders shows the need for more school lessons in science.
– I am glad that the government’s investment in math and science in primary school is paying off. This shows that learning and well-being are not the opposite for younger students. On the contrary. But something is happening in high school that we need to take seriously. Conservatives want to implement upper secondary school reform, to strengthen motivation and learning pressure at the lower secondary level, writes Mathilde Tybring-Gjedde in an email to NRK.
They also want to introduce a new science instructional lesson at the intermediate level.
The Center Party believes that the Conservatives conclude on a weak basis with this report.
– Only raw TIMSS data are presented here. We won’t get the analyzes that might show connections until next year, says Storting’s representative for the Center Party, Marit Knutsdatter Strand.
