Primary students slip behind in Marshall Islands

Last Updated: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:22:00 +1100

Test results for primary school students in the Marshall Islands indicate academic achievement this year is lower than the previous year.

The Ministry of Education's test report for 2011 shows nearly 80 per cent of third graders could not perform at grade level in English, mathematics and science.

In the sixth grade, the test indicated only 18 per cent were proficient in English reading, 16 per cent in maths and there was just 8 per cent proficiency in science.

The ministry says an unreliably high score for eighth graders in some schools arose because of inconsistencies in the administration of the test.

A Ministry of Education official says the grade results are disappointing as the government has invested more than $US30 million annually in the education sector since 2004.

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