Skip navigation

Custom Search

2003-2006 information on literacy/numeracy

Participation in Year 12 mathematics subjects, 1995–2004

A new report released by the Federal Government-funded International Centre of Excellence for Education in Mathematics (ICE-EM) shows a steep decline in the percentage of Year 12 students taking higher level mathematics in Australia in the past decade.

ICE-EM Director Professor Garth Gaudry says that the report, Participation in Year 12 mathematics across Australia 1995–2004, indicates that 'fewer students are being prepared for tertiary study in areas of vital national importance' and that Australia is thus 'at risk of a dire shortage of mathematically-trained people'.

Some findings from the report:

  • Approximately 4 out of 5 Year 12 students in Australia enrol in 1 or more mathematics subjects.
  • The proportion of Year 12 students across Australia taking Advanced mathematics fell from 14.1% in 1995 to 11.7% in 2004.
  • The proportion of Year 12 students across Australia taking Intermediate mathematics (but not Advanced mathematics) fell from 27.2% in 1995 to 22.6% in 2004.
  • The proportion of Year 12 students across Australia taking Elementary mathematics (but not Intermediate or Advanced mathematics) rose from approximately 37% in 1995 to approximately 46% in 2004.

Advanced mathematics students, as a percentage of Year 12– by state (1995 & 2004)


 NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS ACT NT Nation
1995 18.9 11.4 12.6 12.6 11.8 4.6 12.2 5.8 14.1
2004 15.0 12.6 8.4 8.2 9.1 5.5 11.9 3.2 11.7


Intermediate mathematics students, as a percentage of Year 12– by state (1995 & 2004)


 NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS ACT NT Nation
1995 30.0 24.4 33.7 18.8 23.6 15.3 27.6 9.7 27.2
2004 20.1 24.2 31.7 13.4 16.0 14.3 28.0 9.9 22.6

Professor Gaudry said that 'students have to be rewarded in university entrance score calculations for tackling more difficult subjects' in order to reverse the current trends in Year 12 mathematics participation.

The full report Participation in Year 12 Mathematics across Australia 1995–2004 is available from: International Centre of Excellence for Education in Mathematics [viewed 5/12/2006].

Sources:
The Australian, 6/6/06, p.15.
West Australian, 6/6/06, p.1.
International Centre of Excellence for Education in Mathematics 2006, Declining Year 12 advanced maths enrolments threatens national capability, media release, 6 June, International Centre of Excellence for Education in Mathematics [viewed 5/12/2006].

Back to top

2006 Report indicates lack of financial literacy among young Australians

The first ever national study into the basic financial skills of young Australians, released by the Commonwealth Bank Foundation, has found that a third to a half of those surveyed lacked some basic skills in understanding financial matters such as reading a bank statement and using an ATM.

The Australian Financial Literacy Assessment (ALFA) 2006 Report surveyed over 43,000 Australian students in Years 9 and 10 in 2005. Ralph Norris, Commonwealth Bank CEO and Chairman of the Commonwealth Bank Foundation, said that the report shows a high level of confidence from students in a consumer capacity but exposes large gaps in their understanding of general financial transactions.

The report's key findings include:

  • Males and females performed equally on ALFA.
  • Around 50% of all respondents could not interpret a bank statement.
  • Percentage of Year Nine students who could not calculate best value when shopping: 30%.
  • Percentage of Year Ten students who could not calculate best value when shopping: 26%.
  • Between 20% and 30% of all students do not recognise indications of Internet fraud.
  • Some 15% to 20% of students could not calculate how to withdraw required sums of money from an ATM.
  • Around 15% of both Years 9 and 10 could not understand the cost implications of entering an SMS competition.

The Commonwealth Bank Foundation conducted the AFLA report through Educational Assessment Australia, which is part of the University of New South Wales.

A copy of the report can be downloaded from the Commonwealth Bank Foundation website.

Source:
Commonwealth Bank Foundation media release Students lack basic money skills: Commonwealth Bank Foundation report [viewed 5/12/2006].
Herald Sun, 23/02/06, p.33
The Daily Telegraph, 23/02/06, p.5

Back to top

PISA and TIMSS survey results, 2003

The results of two international studies were released in December 2004. Both surveys were conducted in 2002–03 in more than 40 countries.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) surveys reading, mathematical and scientific literacy levels every three years.
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) surveys student achievement in mathematics and science every four years.
Every 12 years, the timing of PISA and TIMSS aligns, and their results are released more or less simultaneously, providing different, but complementary, information about levels of student achievement, and allowing student performances to be compared across countries and over time. The two surveys also provide an opportunity to study the effectiveness of different educational practices across the globe.

For further information and 2002–03 survey results, log on to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Back to top

World youth literacy needs, 2003

Number of young people (15-24 years) worldwide who are illiterate: 153 million (96 million females, 57 million males)

The United Nations report on the world population focuses on the lives of adolescents worldwide and identifies educational opportunities, particularly for females, as an urgent developmental priority.
Source: United Nations Population Fund 2003, State of World Population 2003, UNFPA, New York [viewed 5/12/2005].

Back to top