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As revealed by PISA tests Estonian schoolchildren fared better in math than those in Finland, our envied example.
Estonian pupils in global top 10
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While Estonia may be encouraged by improved knowledge of its students, in the light of PISA study, the Northern neighbours had to admit a continued trend of decline – on the other side of the Baltic Sea, yesterday’s news majored on school crisis.
In wake of the study, conducted in spring 2012 and revealed simultaneously in 65 countries, education minister Jaak Aaviksoo again repeated that we ought to have more confidence. «Sure we have lots of trouble, but let us not be too harsh on ourselves: so far, it’s been good with us, and of course we will see what can be done better,» said he.
PISA study says that, in Europe, Estonia ranks fourth in mathematics and functional reading, and even second in natural sciences. 15 year olds placed a notch above Finns. Sweden and Norway, for instance, were dozens of places below both Finland and Estonia.
In the all-states-list, both Estonia and Finland rank 5th to 12th. Top of the ladder is occupied by countries from Asia, with four favoured Chinese provinces viewed separately. Among European countries, only Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Holland rank higher than Estonia and Finland in math – but not in reading and sciences.
Data processing weaker
True: looking at math problems, Estonia and other Baltics were stronger in knowledge of formulas and calculations, yet weaker in interpreting results and creating mathematical models.
«In math, the test centred on use of mathematics in solving everyday problems, not just doing classroom tasks,» explained Tiit Lepmann of University of Tartu mathematics-informatics department.
According to him, Finland and OECD average otherwise: doing tasks is more difficult for the students, yet they are better at interpreting results.
«Maybe, in our schools, we just solve a problem and go on to the next one; rather, perhaps, we should take more time to discuss what I got and what to do with it?» added Mr Lepmann.
According to Mr Lepmann, Estonian students are weak in data processing, making diagrams and reading those. «We should lay more emphasis on this,» concluded the mathematician.
Boys’ skills worse
At the same time, the tests revealed that Estonian students differ from neighbours, and from global average, in their attitudes.
«Our kids value their own input in achieving results much higher: all is possible if I try; when I work hard, I do better,» said Mr Lepmann. «And also: 40 per cent of Estonian kids admitted to like solving hard problems,» he added.
According to Foundation Innove specialist Gunda Tire, it is good to see that Russian language based schools have done much better that at previous tests in 2006 and 2009. «Their improvement is notable,» said she.
True: Russian language schools still fall below the Estonian ones, but the gap is shrinking. The reason: textbooks and methods have by now been harmonised.
According to Ms Tire, pupils could not be trained for the test at hand; rather, the results revealed their ability to make connections and think. In functional reading skills, again bots – Estonian and Russian alike – fell behind girls by a year.
«This should be studied systemically, what the reason might be. Maybe we have something amiss with the methodology, maybe our approach fits the girls better,» said education minister Mr Aaviksoo. «We must definitely deal with this.»
Participants selected by computer
As revealed by test results, Estonia has less than average of very weak students – nine of ten managed average level problems. Yet: we have few top students. As admitted by Mehis Pever, headmaster at Tallinn Co-Educational Gymnasium, the school indeed manages to deal with the very weakest – yet, the teachers ought to have more time for the brightest.
«Achievements ought to be encouraged, feeling of happiness practised. Still, a single issue should not be overblown. Nice, though, if Estonia does well,» said he.
According to Ragnar Jaaniste, a student at the selfsame school, it is good to have some kinds of rankings for countries. «This lifts of lowers the ego; for a small country like Estonia, recognition comes in handy,» explained he.
«I was glad to be selected, so I could give my little input,» said his schoolmate Cornelia Efros.
Those doing the test were not selected by ministry of education, neither the schools; rather, this was done by computers, pursuant to prescribed schemes – no-one could be replaced. In the Tallinn Co-Educational Gymnasium, a student was even brought to school who, at the time, was often absent – all in the name of fairness.
Estonian level among world peaks
PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) is the largest and best-known educational study in the world, initiated in 1980 by OECD with the aim to improve quality of education. Estonia is included since 2006.
The study conducted in April-May 2012 included 510,000 students aged 15 from 65 countries, 34 of these from Europe.
• Estonia was represented by 4,779 students (2,409 girls and 2,370 boys)
• 166 from Estonian language schools, 37 from Russian and three from two-language schools
• 79 per cent did the test in Estonian, 21 per cent in Russian
• Of every school 43 students were randomly selected
Estonia’s ranking in the list based on average results
Subject 2006 2009 2012
World/Europe World/Europe World/Europe
• Mathematics 14th /6th 17th /7th 11th /4th
• Functional reading 13th /8th 13th /5th 11th /4th
European states averages, by subject
Statistically, Estonian students do not differ much from countries around us
Mathematics Functional reading Natural science
Result Country Result Country Result Country
1. 535 Liechtenstein 1. 524 Finland 1. 545 Finland
2. 531 Switzerland 2. 523 Ireland 2. 541 Estonia
3. 523 Holland 3. 518 Poland 3. 526 Poland
4. 521 Estonia 4. 516 Estonia 4. 525 Liechtenstein
5. 519 Finland 5. 516 Liechtenstein 5. 524 Germany
6. 518 Poland 6. 511 Holland 6. 522 Holland
7. 515 Belgium 7. 509 Belgium 7. 522 Ireland
8. 514 Germany 8. 509 Switzerland 8. 515 Switzerland
9. 506 Austria 9. 508 Germany 9. 514 Slovenia
10. 501 Island 10. 505 France 10. 514 France
Compared to neighbours – Nordics in decline, Baltics and Russia climb
Math
2006 2009 2012
Estonia 515 512 521
Finland 548 541 519
Denmark 513 503 500
Latvia 486 482 491
Norway 490 498 489
Russia 476 468 482
Lithuania 486 477 479
Sweden 502 494 478
Functional reading
2006 2009 2012
Finland 546 536 524
Estonia 501 501 516
Norway 484 503 504
Denmark 494 495 496
Latvia 479 484 489
Sweden 507 497 483
Lithuania 470 468 477
Russia 440 459 475
Natural sciences
2006 2009 2012
Finland 563 554 545
Estonia 531 528 541
Latvia 490 494 502
Denmark 496 499 498
Lithuania 488 491 496
Norway 487 500 495
Russia 479 478 486
Sweden 503 495 485
Estonian and Russian language students; changes in math
2006 2009 2012
Estonian 487 483 529
Russian 487 483 498
Difference 40 38 31
Estonian and Russian language students’ results
Functional reading Natural sciences
Estonian girls 546 551
Estonia boys 504 546
Russian girls 500 510
Russian boys 471 517
Boys and girls results in functional reading
Estonia OECD
Boys 494 478
Girls 538 515
Average 516 496