The first results of the new monitoring tasks in Latvian schools showed that students in the 3rd and 6th grades confidently handle basic tasks, but experience noticeable difficulties when solving more complex and comprehensive problems.
This is the first large-scale monitoring in the history of Latvia conducted among students in the 3rd and 6th grades. Its aim is not to assign grades, but to check how well children can apply the knowledge they have gained in practice and what skills they need to develop further.
The results showed that students perform best on tasks that require finding specific information, identifying facts, performing simple calculations, or reading data from straightforward charts. Tasks that require analysis of information, justification of their position, formulation of conclusions, and simultaneous use of multiple data sources proved to be much more challenging.
Specialists pay particular attention to the results of sixth graders in mathematical and scientific literacy. The average score in mathematics was 38%, while in natural sciences it was 35%. At the same time, the level of textual literacy was higher at 58%.
For third graders, the results were distributed as follows: textual literacy - 47%, mathematical - 56%, scientific - 49%.
The Ministry of Education and Science emphasizes that the skills being assessed are the foundation for further learning. For example, sixth-grade students were asked to solve problems related to family budget planning and to choose appropriate measuring instruments for various practical situations.
The data obtained is planned to be used to improve the educational system. They will help municipalities and schools identify areas for methodological work, identify students who need additional support, and organize extra classes, study groups, or summer programs.
The ministry specifically notes that the results of the monitoring cannot be directly compared to current grades or the results of centralized exams. While regular tests often check the mastery of a specific topic, monitoring tasks are aimed at assessing the ability to apply knowledge in real-life situations.
