I have been very fortunate in my life in that I have been given opportunities to work with mathematics students in China, Korea and Vietnam.

The universal process

This experience shows that learning is a universal process. And the fact that the Vietnamese students enjoyed the sessions and were able to take so much from each lesson was heartening. Incidentally, in China and Vietnam, school runs for six days per week, seven hours per day. Not much time for sport and other recreational activities.

Australia’s shorter school week and the leisure time available to students, coupled with our first class facilities may be the reason that Australia looms so large on the world sporting stage. Thus, it could be that a balance between the two cultures regarding schooling would improve the learning outcomes in both countries.

Australian school standards based on OECD statistics; according to PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) results are in decline. There is far too much emphasis on ‘accountability’. Whereby, teachers are drowning in paperwork rather than being able to do engage in their passion, which is to teach.

Vietnam, a third world country, with very meager resources, is ranked 10 th out of 72 countries in mathematics. Whereas, Australia is ranked 27 th . Prior to the introduction of the restrictive “outcomes based learning system’ Australia had been ranked 4 th in mathematics. There has been a similar decline in other subjects across the board.

Just recently on the ABC program, “The Drum”, Adam Spence (a mathematician and passionate educator), debated the decline in Australian educational standards and canvassed possible solutions.

The reasons behind the success of Finland’s education system, ranked 6 th in the PISA results, were explored. They are interesting and could be easily applied in Australia. We will look at these next week. In the meantime, it remains to be seen if Australia can reverse its educational decline before it become too late.

See: The Weekender (Page 49)