Peru’s third and sixth grade students registered a significant improvement in Reading, Writing, Mathematics and Natural Sciences subjects.
The results were registered by UNESCO's Third Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study (TERCE) which assessed the educational quality in Latin American and Caribbean countries.
TERCE is a large scale study of learning achievements applied in 2013; 15 countries took part (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay) and the Mexican state of Nuevo León (Mexico).
This study assesses the performance of third and sixth-grade pupils in Mathematics, Reading and Writing (Language), plus Natural Sciences for sixth grade students.
The main object is to find out the quality of education in the region and orient decision-making in education policy.
In order to achieve this objective, the study involves not only taking tests to measure learning achievements, but also questionnaires to gain understanding of the circumstances in which learning occurs.
In contrast to the previous regional study (SERCE) in 2006, Peru climbed from the 12 to 4 and 8 spot concerning reading (third and sixth grade categories), respectively. It is followed by Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, among other countries.
Likewise, positive results were registered in mathematics, natural sciences and writing.
In mathematics, third grade results were also outstanding: Peru rose from 12 to 7 spot, whereas sixth grade students went from position 12 to 6.
On the other hand, the Head of Peru's Quality Learning Measurement Office (UMC) Liliana Miranda Molina highlighted Peruvian improvement in TERCE competition, which reflects the advance registered in learning over recent years.
"These are encouraging results for the Education Ministry, and we believe this progress is possible thanks to the educational policies that have been implemented [...]," she told Andina news agency.
At the same time, Molina indicated wide pre-school education coverage, teacher training, assistance, best teaching practices implementation and other educational factors also contributed to this achievement.
However, the challenge to enhance interventions in Peru's rural education, either in private or public schools is faced, UMC's Head added.
(END) RRC/RRC/AVV/MVB
Published: 11/9/2015