Vietnamese students have math scores among the highest in the world.

The PISA results were published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) from a survey of 6,068 students in 178 schools, representing approximately 939,500 15-year-old students in Vietnam.

Vietnamese students have the highest math scores

The average score of 3 subjects of Vietnamese students ranked 34/81 countries, 2nd in ASEAN after Singapore. The order of ASEAN countries is as follows: Singapore: 1/81; Brunei: 42/81; Malaysia: 47/81; Thailand: 63/81; Indonesia: 69/81; Philippines: 77/81; Cambodia: 81/81.

In Mathematics, Vietnam ranked 31/81 countries. The order of ASEAN countries is Singapore: 1/81; Brunei: 40/81, Malaysia: 40/81; Thailand: 58/81; Indonesia: 69/81; Philippines: 75/81; Cambodia: 81/81).

In Science, Vietnam ranked 35th out of 81 countries. In Reading, Vietnamese students ranked 34th out of 81 countries.

Vietnamese students have the highest math scores after Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea when calculated according to the PISA index of socio-economic conditions.

Vietnam's index is close to the average of 38 OECD countries.

The PISA index of socio-economic and cultural status is calculated so that all students who take the PISA test, regardless of where they live, can be placed on the same socio-economic scale. This means that the index can be used to compare the learning outcomes of students from similar socio-economic backgrounds in different countries.

The Ministry of Education and Training stated: "The overall results show that higher spending on education is associated with higher results in PISA Mathematics. However, Vietnam is a typical example of students achieving high learning results while investing in education is still modest."

Vietnam's spending per student from 6 to 15 years old is only about 13,800 USD while OECD countries/economies spend at 75,000 USD, but the average score in Mathematics of Vietnamese students is 438 points - one of the highest for students with similar socio-economic backgrounds.

About 13% of disadvantaged students in Vietnam achieve high scores in Mathematics (OECD average: 10%).

The PISA 2022 survey focuses on Mathematics alongside Reading and Science; creative thinking is a new assessment area and Vietnamese students were not assessed in this content. As a result, Vietnamese students scored close to the OECD average in Mathematics, Reading and Science.

Vietnam's index is close to the average of 38 OECD countries.

According to the OECD, in Vietnam, 72% of students achieve at least Level 2 in Mathematics (OECD average: 69%). About 5% of students in Vietnam are top performers in Mathematics, meaning they achieve Level 5 or 6 in the PISA Mathematics test (OECD average: 9%).

About 77% of students in Vietnam achieve Reading Level 2 or higher (OECD average: 74%). 1% of students achieve high achievement, scoring 5 or higher in reading (OECD average: 7%).

Around 79% of students in Vietnam achieve Level 2 or above in Science (OECD average: 76%). 2% of students achieve high levels in science, meaning they are proficient at Level 5 or 6 (OECD average: 7%).

The results of the survey published by the OECD show that by comparing results internationally, policymakers and educators in Vietnam can learn from the policies and practices of other countries. The survey results also provide insight into how well the education system is preparing students for real-life challenges and future success.

Since Vietnam first participated in PISA in 2012, it has achieved many important results, comparing internationally and regionally and providing national educational analysis data.

This PISA test was originally scheduled to be conducted in 2021 but was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exceptional circumstances during this time, including school closures in many countries, made it difficult to collect some data.

Minh Khoi

Source