Irish 15-year-olds are performing at only average levels in maths when compared to their counterparts in other OECD states, a major new study has found.
The OECD study says maths standards of 15-year olds (mainly Junior Cert students) are significantly lower in the the Republic than in countries like Finland and Switzerland.
It also found that over 17 per cent of 15-year-olds are scoring at the lowest possible proficiency level in maths, indicating that they have insufficient skills to meet their own future needs and the needs of society.
On a brighter note, the study confirms that Irish students are well above the OECD average in reading skills and above the OECD average in science.
On reading skills, the Republic takes sixth place among 29 OECD states.
Ireland, which scored well in the last study three years ago, is "still among the highest performing countries in literacy", it says.
But the study points to areas of concern.
Over 11 per cent of students scoring at the lowest possible level in reading.
The report concludes that "progress in reducing the proportion of students in schools who have reading difficulties has been limited".
The overall performance in science is reasonably strong with Irish teenagers 13th among OECD states.
Maths is the main focus of the report. Ireland comes 17th among 29 OECD states. This, it says, is significantly lower than top-performing states like Finland, Belgium and Switzerland.
Irish scores were particularly low in geometry.
The study also concludes that overall reading standards have dropped, when compared to the last OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) report three years ago.
The Irish research for the OECD project was compiled by Judith Cosgrove, Dr Gerry Shiel, Nick Sofroniou, Sarah Zastrutzki and Fionnuala Shortt, of the Education Research Centre at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin.
The relatively poor performance of Irish students in maths in the OECD study confirms a picture evident in recent State exams. About 5,000 students failed maths in last year's Leaving Cert, making them ineligible for most third-level courses.
The Government and business believe higher maths standards are necessary if the Republic is realise its ambition as a leading Knowledge Society.
A new Junior Cert maths syllabus was introduced three years to help raise standards.
But the PISA study finds that this has not yet had the expected impact. Standards in maths are broadly in line with the last PISA study in 2000.
In other findings the OECD reports concludes:
Irish schools are broadly similar in terms of their academic achievement compared to other states - which are more multicultural.
There was a clear link between low achievement and levels of disadvantage.
Students from lone-parent families were less likely to perform strongly in maths, reading and science and may require greater assistance.
Achievement levels in maths are closely linked to disciplinary standards in the school.
Irish boys outperform females in science and perform just as well as girls in maths in the PISA study - even though girls outperform boys in both subjects in State exams.
On maths, the report found that Ireland has significantly fewer very high achievers than many other states. Expressing concern about the 20 per cent -plus performing at the lowest level, it makes the case for a more practical approach.
