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Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
8th-grade Azorean students with better maths and science averages than national average in international study
8th-grade Azorean students with better maths and science averages than national average in international study
Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
Sofia Ribeiro says 2025 will be year of "consolidating policies"
Sofia Ribeiro says 2025 will be year of "consolidating policies"
Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
Intervenção da Secretária Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
Intervenção da Secretária Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
December 10, 2024
8th-grade Azorean students with better maths and science averages than national average in international study
November 25, 2024
Sofia Ribeiro says 2025 will be year of "consolidating policies"
November 25, 2024
Intervenção da Secretária Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
News
Nota de Imprensa
December 10, 2024
8th-grade Azorean students with better maths and science averages than national average in international study
The most recent data from the TIMMS international assessment shows that 8th-grade Azorean students exceeded the national average scores in maths and science in 2023, an indicator praised by the Regional Secretary for Education, Sofia Ribeiro. In 8th-grade maths, the Region scored an average of 476 points, compared to 475 nationwide, while in science the Azores scored 510 points, four more than the national average. TIMSS is an international assessment of the performance of 4th and 8th grade students in Maths and Science. It was developed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), an independent international association made up of educational research institutions and government research agencies dedicated to improving education systems. Also compared to the national average, due to various fluctuations, the Autonomous Region of the Azores came closer to both national average scores in 4th grade in 2023: it is now only three points behind in Maths, whereas it was 19 points behind in 2019, and it was eight points behind in Science in 2019 and seven points behind in 2023. In the international context, the Azores are above the international average in 4th grade maths, with 11 more points, and in science, with 10 more points. This is an assessment involving each student answering a test questionnaire combining maths and science items. The non-public nature of this international study makes it possible to compare results over the various editions of the study and identify trends in the results, with items already tested in previous years of the same study being applied in different contexts. In each cycle, some items that are no longer part of the tests and that illustrate the questions posed to the students are made public. In each TIMSS cycle, students are selected for each of the school years under assessment, through a two-stage sampling process: in the first phase, a stratified random sample of schools is set up, the selection of which is proportional to the number of schools per stratum and the size of the schools; in the second phase, classes of students from these schools are randomly selected. As such, the sample is representative of the country's target population. The TIMMS assessment can be consulted at IAVE TIMSS.
December 10, 2024
8th-grade Azorean students with better maths and science averages than national average in international study
The most recent data from the TIMMS international assessment shows that 8th-grade Azorean students exceeded the national average scores in maths and science in 2023, an indicator praised by the Regional Secretary for Education, Sofia Ribeiro. In 8th-grade maths, the Region scored an average of 476 points, compared to 475 nationwide, while in science the Azores scored 510 points, four more than the national average. TIMSS is an international assessment of the performance of 4th and 8th grade students in Maths and Science. It was developed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), an independent international association made up of educational research institutions and government research agencies dedicated to improving education systems. Also compared to the national average, due to various fluctuations, the Autonomous Region of the Azores came closer to both national average scores in 4th grade in 2023: it is now only three points behind in Maths, whereas it was 19 points behind in 2019, and it was eight points behind in Science in 2019 and seven points behind in 2023. In the international context, the Azores are above the international average in 4th grade maths, with 11 more points, and in science, with 10 more points. This is an assessment involving each student answering a test questionnaire combining maths and science items. The non-public nature of this international study makes it possible to compare results over the various editions of the study and identify trends in the results, with items already tested in previous years of the same study being applied in different contexts. In each cycle, some items that are no longer part of the tests and that illustrate the questions posed to the students are made public. In each TIMSS cycle, students are selected for each of the school years under assessment, through a two-stage sampling process: in the first phase, a stratified random sample of schools is set up, the selection of which is proportional to the number of schools per stratum and the size of the schools; in the second phase, classes of students from these schools are randomly selected. As such, the sample is representative of the country's target population. The TIMMS assessment can be consulted at IAVE TIMSS.
Nota de Imprensa
November 25, 2024
Sofia Ribeiro says 2025 will be year of "consolidating policies"
The Regional Secretary for Education, Culture and Sport, Sofia Ribeiro, stressed today that 2025 will be a year of "consolidating the policies pursued" in her areas of governance but also in the Government as a whole. "The commitment is to continue improving the success of every Azorean student, continue preserving and disseminating culture in the Azores and continue promoting healthy habits through physical activity and sport," she said. She spoke in Horta during the parliamentary discussion of the 2025 Plan and Budget proposals. On the occasion, Sofia Ribeiro emphasised that the 2025 investment plan of the Regional Secretariat for Education, Culture and Sport amounts to 61 million Euros, six million more than the plan presented and approved in 2024 and 24 million more than the last plan presented by the Socialist Party. "As has been the norm since the coalition Government took office, the largest share of the Education Investment Plan will once again be allocated to School Welfare, with 16 million Euros. About 26% of the plan of the Regional Secretariat for Education, Culture and Sport intends to support Azorean families and help them with their expenses," she stressed. The Regional Secretary also emphasised that, under the current Government, "families’ costs with education have fallen dramatically." He explained: "There has been a reduction in the price of school meals, something that had never happened under previous governments. Our revision meant that families paid about 250 thousand Euros less for school meals. By 2026, school textbooks will be free for all Azorean students." The rate of early dropout from education and training ‘has fallen to a historic low in the Region,’ the government official stated. There is a higher progression rate than in Mainland Portugal for students in complex situations with high failure rates receiving support under the EPIS programme. "In the latest national exams, the regional average is higher than the national average in 10 subjects, including Portuguese and Maths A," she noted. "It was on this premise that this Government presented the Azores 2030 Education Strategy, the most widely participated document ever in the education sector. It outlines the goals we want to achieve so that the Azores can come closer to the results registered nationwide," she said, noting the integration of 1,300 staff regional schools. In the area of Culture, 2025 has an Investment Plan exceeding 7.2 million Euros. "Over the last few years, we have effectively stepped up payments, specifically to cultural agents," said Sofia Ribeiro, who guaranteed the investment in Intangible Cultural Heritage inventory projects in 2025 with “application processes that involved the community and organisations on all islands.” "In this sector too, we have invested in the stability of cultural workers, settling many jobs. When we took office, there was a rampant use of freelance labour in culture. We identified the stabilisation of these workers as a priority by placing 20% of these workers under permanent employment contracts," she continued. As for sport, she recalled the various projects developed, ensuring that next year support will be granted to sporting events and clubs participating "in non-professional competitions, the competitive participation of clubs and high-performance sports." "The Azores recorded more than 24 thousand federated athletes in 2023 in 43 sports - figures that have never been recorded before. With a view to continuing this upward trend, we will continue to invest in sports agents, motor skills from an early age, promotion of ethics and training, and the encouragement of intergenerational and community physical activity. These goals are essential conditions for promoting healthy lifestyle habits, which are the basis for the formation of each individual, a priority for the XIV Government of the Azores. For this consolidation, we will continue to improve the regional sports venues and their accessibility," she stressed.
November 25, 2024
Sofia Ribeiro says 2025 will be year of "consolidating policies"
The Regional Secretary for Education, Culture and Sport, Sofia Ribeiro, stressed today that 2025 will be a year of "consolidating the policies pursued" in her areas of governance but also in the Government as a whole. "The commitment is to continue improving the success of every Azorean student, continue preserving and disseminating culture in the Azores and continue promoting healthy habits through physical activity and sport," she said. She spoke in Horta during the parliamentary discussion of the 2025 Plan and Budget proposals. On the occasion, Sofia Ribeiro emphasised that the 2025 investment plan of the Regional Secretariat for Education, Culture and Sport amounts to 61 million Euros, six million more than the plan presented and approved in 2024 and 24 million more than the last plan presented by the Socialist Party. "As has been the norm since the coalition Government took office, the largest share of the Education Investment Plan will once again be allocated to School Welfare, with 16 million Euros. About 26% of the plan of the Regional Secretariat for Education, Culture and Sport intends to support Azorean families and help them with their expenses," she stressed. The Regional Secretary also emphasised that, under the current Government, "families’ costs with education have fallen dramatically." He explained: "There has been a reduction in the price of school meals, something that had never happened under previous governments. Our revision meant that families paid about 250 thousand Euros less for school meals. By 2026, school textbooks will be free for all Azorean students." The rate of early dropout from education and training ‘has fallen to a historic low in the Region,’ the government official stated. There is a higher progression rate than in Mainland Portugal for students in complex situations with high failure rates receiving support under the EPIS programme. "In the latest national exams, the regional average is higher than the national average in 10 subjects, including Portuguese and Maths A," she noted. "It was on this premise that this Government presented the Azores 2030 Education Strategy, the most widely participated document ever in the education sector. It outlines the goals we want to achieve so that the Azores can come closer to the results registered nationwide," she said, noting the integration of 1,300 staff regional schools. In the area of Culture, 2025 has an Investment Plan exceeding 7.2 million Euros. "Over the last few years, we have effectively stepped up payments, specifically to cultural agents," said Sofia Ribeiro, who guaranteed the investment in Intangible Cultural Heritage inventory projects in 2025 with “application processes that involved the community and organisations on all islands.” "In this sector too, we have invested in the stability of cultural workers, settling many jobs. When we took office, there was a rampant use of freelance labour in culture. We identified the stabilisation of these workers as a priority by placing 20% of these workers under permanent employment contracts," she continued. As for sport, she recalled the various projects developed, ensuring that next year support will be granted to sporting events and clubs participating "in non-professional competitions, the competitive participation of clubs and high-performance sports." "The Azores recorded more than 24 thousand federated athletes in 2023 in 43 sports - figures that have never been recorded before. With a view to continuing this upward trend, we will continue to invest in sports agents, motor skills from an early age, promotion of ethics and training, and the encouragement of intergenerational and community physical activity. These goals are essential conditions for promoting healthy lifestyle habits, which are the basis for the formation of each individual, a priority for the XIV Government of the Azores. For this consolidation, we will continue to improve the regional sports venues and their accessibility," she stressed.
