41% of first-year high school students in Seoul have demonstrated basic mathematical skills below average. This increase in the percentage of students giving up on math as they progress from elementary to middle to high school reflects this trend.
On the 14th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced the results of the "2024 Seoul Student Literacy and Mathematical Ability Diagnosis Test."
This diagnostic test measures student competencies rather than being subject-centric. Introduced in 2023 due to concerns over declining basic academic skills caused by COVID-19, this is the first time the results have been made public.
Last year's test was conducted from Nov. 4 to 7 at 524 elementary, middle, and high schools in Seoul, targeting a total of over 94,000 students, including those in the 4th and 6th grades of elementary school, 2nd grade of middle school, and 1st grade of high school. The test comprises literacy, which assesses vocabulary and data analysis skills, and mathematical ability, which measures number operations, geometry, and data collection and analysis skills.
Each diagnostic test score is evaluated across levels 1 to 4, with lower numbers indicating a lack of basic academic skills. Level 1 signifies failure to meet basic literacy and mathematical competency, Level 2 represents basic level, Level 3 indicates above average, and Level 4 is considered excellent.
Regarding literacy, the percentage of 4th graders in elementary school who are below basic or at basic level is recorded at 21.25%. For 6th graders, it is 16.96%. Furthermore, 20.93% of 2nd-year middle school students and 20% of 1st-year high school students fall into the same categories. Considering only the below basic level, 4th grade is 3.42%, 6th grade is 4.26%, 2nd year middle school is 5.92%, and 1st year high school is 7.02%.
For mathematical ability, the percentage of 4th graders in elementary school at below basic or basic level is 22.87%, while 6th graders are at 19.93%. For 2nd year middle school students, it is 32.53%, and for 1st year high school students, it is 41.3%. The below basic figures for 4th and 6th grades are 4.12% and 5.59%, respectively, while it is 12.42% for 2nd year middle school and 13.68% for 1st year high school.
Jeong Geun-sik, the superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, noted, "We will actively support various measures to enhance literacy and mathematical ability from 4th grade to 1st year of high school."