Ireland’s 15-year-olds demonstrated significant prowess across all three domains — reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy — surpassing the OECD average in each category.
Ireland’s 15-year-olds demonstrated significant prowess across all three domains — reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy — surpassing the OECD average in each category.
Irish students have secured the top position in reading literacy among both OECD and EU member countries. The recent OECD Programme for International Student Assessment 2022 results showcased Ireland’s 15-year-olds as unparalleled performers in reading, solidifying their status as the best in the EU and OECD regions.
Education Minister Norma Foley TD presented the results, noting the achievement of Ireland’s students on the global stage. The PISA, conducted every three years, measures the academic proficiency of 15-year-old students in key areas, including reading, mathematics, and science.
The key findings of the 2022 assessments underscore Ireland’s dominance in reading. Irish students emerged as the top performers in reading among the 38 OECD countries and 26 EU member nations, showcasing a remarkable grasp of the subject.
In addition, Ireland’s 15-year-olds demonstrated significant prowess across all three domains — reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy — surpassing the OECD average in each category.
Ireland’s standing in the international educational landscape has seen a substantial rise across all domains since the 2018 PISA results. In reading literacy alone, the nation climbed from eighth place to an impressive second place among the 81 participating countries.
The study also highlighted a considerable decrease in the number of low-performing students in Ireland, signaling a commitment to fostering a robust and inclusive educational environment.
Moreover, both male and female students in Ireland showcased outstanding performance, surpassing the OECD average in reading literacy and other key domains. These results not only affirm Ireland’s commitment to educational excellence but also position Irish students as global leaders in reading literacy, setting a benchmark for other nations within the OECD and the EU. The achievement reflects the collective dedication of students, educators, and policymakers toward nurturing a world-class education system in Ireland.
“The results are extremely positive news for Ireland. We have retained our place among a small set of high achieving countries at a time where particular strain was put on school communities globally due to COVID-19,” said Foley.
“We have also ensured that the number of low achieving students remains amongst the lowest in the 81 countries tested,” she added.
In PISA 2022, a total of 5,569 students from 170 schools in Ireland participated in the assessment, which took place in October and November of the previous year. Globally, 600,000 15-year-olds from 81 countries/economies, including 38 OECD countries (26 EU Countries), took part in the tests.
The key findings revealed that the overall performance in science witnessed a significant increase, showing an improvement of nearly eight points compared to the 2018 PISA results.
In contrast, the overall performance in reading literacy remained stable during the same period.
However, Ireland’s average performance in mathematics experienced a notable decline of 8 points since 2018. The decrease was below the average 15-point decline observed across OECD countries during the same timeframe.
The change in overall mathematics performance warrants further investigation, and follow-up reports from the Educational Research Centre, which administers PISA on behalf of the Department of Education, are expected to provide valuable insights for decision-making.
Foley cited the significance of the PISA results, saying that they offer a unique snapshot into how 15-year-old students in Ireland apply their knowledge and skills in mathematics, reading, and science to real-life problems and situations.
“Irish students have extremely high standards when it comes to reading, among the best there is. There was only one other country, Singapore, that had a significantly higher average performance. The overall trend in our reading performance has remained stable between 2018 and 2022,” she said.
Despite challenges in the Irish education system, PISA 2022 results revealed strong performance by Irish students, especially in reading compared to OECD and EU averages, the government said.
However, in science and mathematics, Ireland faces challenges with average or below-average proportions of higher-achieving students, prompting ongoing efforts in curriculum, pedagogy, and policy development.
While there’s no significant gender difference in science, females excel in reading literacy, and males in mathematics.
To address these variations, the Educational Research Centre suggests boosting self-belief among male students in reading and female students in mathematics, aiming for enhanced academic performance and equitable educational outcomes.
The Irish government has recently introduced the International Education Mark to regulate the English-language training and higher education sectors, signaling a significant step in quality assurance for international students.
The initiative, developed over six years, aims to elevate education standards and respond strategically to global competition in the education market.
Minister Simon Harris announced the IEM in Seoul, aligning with Ireland’s broader goal of strengthening its position as an educational hub. The IEM establishes national standards for aspects such as recruitment, admission, information provision, and student welfare to ensure a quality experience for international learners.
The move is part of Ireland’s commitment to enhancing its education system’s quality, fostering global connections, and attracting students seeking a high-quality education experience. The strategic timing and location of the announcement during a trade mission in South Korea underscore Ireland’s intent to engage with regions offering high potential for educational exchange.
The IEM addresses challenges faced by Ireland in the past, such as the closure of ELT schools between 2014 and 2018, revealing weaknesses in the regulatory framework. The IEM aims to rebuild trust by assuring prospective students of a consistent and high-quality educational experience.
Industry reception of the IEM is positive, with organizations like Marketing English in Ireland actively involved in its development. The collaboration between the government and private sectors reflects a unified effort to enhance Ireland’s educational offerings and rebuild trust with international stakeholders.
In the last academic year, Irish universities saw a record-high international student enrollment of over 35,000, constituting 14 percent of the total, according to a report by the Irish Times. This marks a 10 percent year-on-year increase, suggesting a return to pre-pandemic levels. The United States, India, and China were the top sources of international students.
New entrants to higher education increased by almost one percent, with over 1,000 additional students using the Leaving Cert as their entry basis. Overall student enrollment decreased by 2 percent to 256,785, with a slight drop in full-time enrollments. Ph.D. program enrollments increased by five percent, while taught masters enrollments declined by five percent.
Mature new entrants to higher education decreased by nearly 600, potentially influenced by a strong job market. Despite this, the overall number of undergraduate students continues to rise, particularly in Level 8 honors bachelor’s degrees.
The majority of enrolled students (60 percent) pursued honors degrees, and 11 percent were in taught masters programs. The gender gap widened, with females comprising 55 percent of the student population. The most popular subject groups were business, administration, and law (20 percent) and health and welfare (17 percent).
In the graduating class of 2022, there were 85,645 graduates, a three percent decrease from the previous year. Over 40 percent graduated with honors degrees, nearly one in five with a taught masters, and almost one in four undergraduate honors degree graduates achieved a first-class degree.
