It feels like we're constantly being told that our kids are really bad at math. 

In 2023, we were informed kids recorded their worst ever results in something called the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams. 

It was called "disastrous", "disappointing" -- but, we'd heard it all before. 

In 2020 the 13-year-olds recorded their worst-ever results in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, or TIMSS ... in 2023, almost 60% of Year 8s were failing maths according to something called the National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement, or NMSSA. 

In 2024, data from the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (CIPS) showed just 22% of Year 8s were at the expected curriculum benchmark for maths. 

PISA, TIMSS, NMSSA, CIPS. What are all of these? Are Kiwi kids really that bad at maths? Or, is this just a case of cherry-picking from random data sets to suit a certain narrative?  

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland maths expert Dr Lisa Darragh is with us to try and make sense of all the numbers.

It feels like we're&nbsp;constantly being told that our kids are really bad at math.&nbsp;
In 2023, we were informed kids recorded their worst ever results in something called the&nbsp;OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams.&nbsp;
It was called "disastrous", "disappointing" -- but,&nbsp;we'd heard it all before.&nbsp;
In 2020 the 13-year-olds recorded their&nbsp;worst-ever results in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, or TIMSS&nbsp;... in 2023, almost 60% of Year 8s were failing maths according to something called the National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement, or NMSSA.&nbsp;
In 2024, data from the&nbsp;Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (CIPS) showed just 22%&nbsp;of Year 8s were at the expected curriculum benchmark for maths.&nbsp;
PISA, TIMSS, NMSSA, CIPS. What are all of these? Are Kiwi kids really that bad at maths? Or, is this just a case of cherry-picking from random data sets to suit a certain narrative?&nbsp;&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland maths expert Dr Lisa Darragh is with us to try and make sense of all the numbers.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.

Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. 

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.&nbsp;
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Why the story about Kiwi kids being bad at maths isn’t quite adding up

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1766d55b-dd00-4cf6-8271-b4c1002aef36/transcript