More than a third of Australian 14-year-olds are failing to meet national standards in mathematics, with girls continuing to fall further behind their male peers in both maths and science, according to the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).
The TIMSS report, published yesterday, highlights that Australian Year 8 maths scores have stagnated over nearly three decades, with Victorian students trailing their peers in New South Wales, the ACT, and Western Australia in key areas of maths and science.
Adding to the concerns, boys outperformed girls in maths and science for the first time in Years 4 and 8, a trend Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) researcher Nicole Wernert described as a potential “warning sign.”
Speaking to The Age, Wernert said, “It might be just a blip. But if it is a warning sign, it’s a chance for us to take stock of the push we’ve had to interest girls in STEM and see if it’s working.”
The gender gap was particularly pronounced in Year 4 maths, where Australia ranked equal-last with France among 58 countries assessed in the study.
The TIMSS findings, which assess maths and science skills of Year 4 and Year 8 students every four years, show that more than 35% of Year 8 students across Australia failed to meet proficiency standards in maths in 2023—a figure unchanged since the study began in 1995.
Meanwhile, Australia’s South Asian and Southeast Asian neighbours, including Singapore, Chinese Taipei, and Korea, continued to excel, highlighting a stark contrast. However, Wernert noted that Australia remains competitive against other English-speaking nations such as the United States and Canada.
Meanwhile, the Victorian Government today announced new measures to improve numeracy outcomes.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today unveiled ready-to-use mathematics lesson plans for teachers, with additional resources to be rolled out through the first half of 2025. The lesson plans aim to strengthen mathematics teaching across Victorian government schools by supporting the revised Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0).
“These lesson plans will not only boost students’ confidence and outcomes in mathematics but also reduce teacher workload, especially for early career and out-of-field teachers,” Carroll said.
The government also announced an initiative to appoint four inaugural Victorian Mathematics Ambassadors, who will champion mathematics education and careers across schools and communities. These ambassadors, drawn from exemplary primary and secondary mathematics teachers, will engage with parents, students, and educators to promote positive attitudes towards maths and highlight career pathways in the field.
Victorian schoolteachers are invited to express interest or nominate colleagues for the ambassador roles, with nominations open until 20 December 2024. Students can also participate by recommending teachers through a VicSRC process.
The $16.4 million investment behind these initiatives underscores the government’s commitment to addressing declining performance and ensuring that mathematics remains a priority for Victorian students and educators.
This dual focus on addressing current challenges while fostering long-term engagement reflects a growing recognition of the importance of numeracy in building a future-ready workforce.
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