The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) resultsreleased on Tuesday show just over half (52 per cent) of NSW students can demonstrate"more than elementary skills"in maths.
For the first time since the PISA assessment began,Australia has fallen into line with the OECD average. Sixteen countries that previously performed worse than Australia have either out-performed it or are now on par.
A significant gender gap in maths performance in favour of male students has returned,despite closing in 2015,and even the highest performing students have recorded"worrying levels of decline",the report said.
The mathematics crisis facing Australia and NSW has been charted byNAPLAN numeracy tests that indicate students are flat-lining at best. Higher order maths skills are slumping but there is no clear scapegoat;experts point to factors ranging from teacher confidence to workforce planning.
Schools program manager of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute,Janine Sprakel,said the PISA results reflect an ageing maths teacher workforce,fewer students taking calculus-based courses in years 11 and 12,and"out of field"maths teaching.
The institutethis year found about three quarters of year 7 to 10 students were taught maths for at least one year by a teacher not trained in the subject."The[PISA] data is consistent with Australia’s urgent need to address this[to be] economically and socially competitive on the world stage,"Ms Sprakel said.