Victorian student learning outcomes continue to deteriorate under the Allan Government as new data confirms student literacy across maths, science and reading has fallen to record lows.
New Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) data has highlighted concerning education outcomes in Victorian 15-year-old students, including;
- The worst reading literacy result on record, with one in five students classified as low performers.
- The worst mathematical literacy result on record, with more than one in four students classified as low performers.
- A stagnant result for scientific literacy, virtually equal to 2018 which was the poorest result on record.
The PISA report states that low performer students have “not acquired the skills and knowledge to allow them to adequately participate in the 21st-century workforce and contribute as productive citizens”.
Concerningly, half of all Victorian students are now not achieving a proficient standard in mathematics – a foundational skill that will be essential to employability in a modern, technologically-advanced economy.
The results also confirm the disproportionate number of disadvantaged students who are low performers, with 45 per cent of Victorian students from disadvantaged backgrounds being low performers in mathematics.
Shadow Minister for Education, Jess Wilson, said: “These results confirm that student outcomes continue to deteriorate under the Allan Government.
“Under Labor, too many students are leaving school without the fundamental skills that will enable them to secure a job, contribute positively to their communities and meet the challenges of life.
“To reverse the decade-long decline in student outcomes, we need to address what is occurring in the classroom and the curriculum, and solve the teacher shortage crisis to ensure every student has the best opportunity to get the most out of their education.”
