asked the Minister for Education if Ireland took part in the International Mathematics Project of 1981 which tested children aged between 13 and 14 in 18 countries; if so, if she will publish the result showing how Ireland rated; and, if not, the reason Ireland decided not to participate.
Written Answers. - International Mathematics Project.
102.
Ireland was one of 25 countries which took part in the second International Mathematical Study (1974-1987) organised by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).
The study had three sections, curriculum analysis, achievement test and classroom study. The organisers have not yet published their conclusions, but preliminary reports indicate that the results of the Irish schools which took part in the achievement test compared very favourably with those of the other countries. The curriculum analysis also reflects favourably on the intermediate certificate syllabus in mathematics. The results of the analysis of the classroom study are not yet to hand.