International Scholarship Survey Japan 15th place in reading comprehension of subjects Dec. 3rd Dec. 17:31

The results of an international academic achievement survey that measures the academic ability of 15-year-olds from around the world have been announced. Japanese children maintained the top level in science and mathematics, but their reading comprehension was 15th, lower than last time. Experts pointed out that "the current school has a lot of new challenges such as English and morality, making it difficult to develop reading comprehension."

This international academic ability survey called “PISA” is conducted once every three years by the OECD = Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development to measure science, mathematics, and reading comprehension at the age of 15 in the world.

Last year's survey was attended by 600,000 children from 79 countries and regions around the world, including first-year high school students in Japan.

As for the results of Japanese children, science was 529 points, ranking 5th lower than last time in 2015, mathematics was 527 points and ranking was one lower, 6th place. It was top level.

On the other hand, “reading ability”, which extracts necessary information from sentences and diagrams and puts it into sentences, etc., was 504 points, dropping the ranking by 7 to 15th place.

In the participating countries and regions, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang in China are the top in all three categories, followed by Singapore and Estonia.

Opportunity for the transition to “departure education”

Japan's educational policy has been greatly influenced by this international academic ability survey. In 2003, the lowering of the ranking was said to be a PISA shock, and the shift from “clear education” until then to “remove education” increased class time and teaching content, and the revitalization of the national achievement test. Also connected.

Compared to science and mathematics, which have maintained the top level in past surveys, Japanese children are said to have lower "reading ability", and the current "removal education" has focused on its development However, the result was not seen this time.

Regarding the results, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology commented, “We take seriously the decline in reading comprehension. We will analyze the factors in detail and work on improving the quality of education through new learning guidelines.” .

“Reading comprehension” example

This is a problem of “reading ability” announced this time.

The test was conducted using a personal computer. A professor's blog about Easter Island, known for its Moai statue, and a book review, as well as reading and comparing three different sentences in a scientific journal article. I'm asking you to list them.

Examples of correct answers are as follows.

(In support of the theory)
▼ People cut down a large tree to move the Moai statue.
▼ Because the rat ate the seeds of the tree, the new tree did not grow.

(Never choose any theory)
▼ Further research has to be done on what actually happened to Oki.

In this way, you can choose which theory you want, but you are asked to have the power to put your thoughts together while showing the reason why you chose it.

The correct reading rate of Japanese reading comprehension is higher than the average of OECD as a whole, but this problem was 48.6%, almost the same level as OECD.

Improving reading comprehension

In order to improve the reading comprehension that is an issue, we are continuing trial and error at school.

At Kubara Elementary School in Kuyama, Fukuoka Prefecture, we have been making efforts to read books for 15 minutes after attending school for about 20 years, and for parents to read and read books.

Also, in a Japanese language class about children's literary artist Nikichi Niimi's "Gon", he exchanged opinions with each other about the changes in the heart of the child's "Gon" and the author's message. I tried to put my thoughts in a sentence.

One of the students said, “If you know the answer while talking with your friends, you will be happy,“ Oh, yes! ”.

In elementary schools, English will be subject to teaching and programming education will begin in the next fiscal year, so there will be problems such as not being able to spend time just developing reading comprehension.

Shohei Yoshida said, “There is no correct answer that reading comprehension will be developed in this way, and it will be difficult to see results that are difficult to see. Children should be very curious from the beginning, but the problem given in the test I just want to nurture a foundation that keeps thinking I can't measure in the test. "

Specialist: “The teachers are full of hands.

Prof. Hiroyuki Tanaka, Waseda University professor professor, who is familiar with academic achievement issues, said, “Since the start of the PISA survey in Japan, we have been implementing measures aimed at improving reading comprehension, such as the course of study and academic ability tests, for 20 years. I think it ’s a shame that we do n’t have enough. ”

On top of that, “The reading comprehension required by PISA is not just literary reading but rather advanced academic skills such as science, society, and comprehensive learning. The content of programming, morals, etc. has become overcrowded, and there is no “scrap”, and only “build” continues.The teacher is full of hands by teaching the basics, and is well prepared for classes to nurture advanced academic ability In reality, there is a need to streamline work and learning in the future. ”