Greek marks below OECD average

Local teenagers perform poorly in PISA test covering science, reading and math

Greek studentsscored below average in science, mathematics and reading in the latest PISA test organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Some 540,000 students across 72 countries or cities were quizzed in the latest version of the computer-based test known as the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, whose results are then compiled in a report.

According to the results, the performances of Greek students in science and reading have been deteriorating since 2006. It has remained relatively stable for mathematics. Around 5,500 15-year-olds from 212 public and private schools in Greece took part in the test. They ranked 43rd in science, 43rd in math and 41st in reading.

This year’s edition of the test had a special focus on science. It found that students in Colombia, Israel, Macau, Portugal, Qatar and Romania made significant gains in the subject over the last decade.

Singapore came top of the table for its teaching of science, reading and mathematics. According to the report, Greek students would have to spend 2.5 years more in school to match the performance of their counterparts in Singapore.

“Everyone used to go to Finland. Now you have to go to Singapore to see what they are doing,” said OECD Chief of Staff Gabriela Ramos.

Among the 35 mostly wealthy countries belonging to the OECD, one out of five students on average did not achieve the baseline level of proficiency in science.