Ireland ranks only average in mathematical literacy but is above the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average for levels of reading and scientific literacy, according to a study published today.
The study assesses the extent to which students approaching the end of compulsory education in OECD countries have the knowledge and skills needed for full participation in society.
Ireland was ranked fifth in reading, ninth in science and 16th in mathematics literacy levels out of the 31 countries surveyed.
Japan, Korea and New Zealand were the top three countries in mathematical literacy; Finland, Canada and New Zealand were the top three in reading literacy levels. Korea, Japan and Finland are the top in scientific literacy.
Mathematical and scientific literacy are defined in the survey as the capacity of students to use the mathematical and scientific knowledge acquired in school in a world that increasingly relies on technological and scientific advances.
In Ireland, 14 per cent of the 15-year-olds surveyed had the highest level of reading literacy, being able to understand complex texts, evaluate information, build hypotheses, and draw on specialised knowledge. This compares with an OECD average of 10 per cent.
In every country surveyed, girls were on average better readers than boys but in the case of scientific literacy differences were small.
In 20 out of 28 countries, more than one in four students consider school a place where they do not want to go - with the most reluctant students most likely to live in Belgium where 42 per cent would rather be somewhere else.
The survey also found higher than average spending per student tended to be associated with higher-than-average performance in the three areas of literacy but that it did not guarantee it.