Why can Singapore get such high Maths PISA results and Australia cannot?

It's simple.

Here is an extract from the Singapore Maths syllabus: "The Mathematics Framework has been a feature of our mathematics curriculum since 1990, and it is still relevant to date. The central focus of the framework is mathematical problem solving, that is using mathematics to solve problems."

The framework emphasises that skills should be not merely be taught as procedures.

From the Australian Curriculum in Mathematics: "In Mathematics, the key ideas are the proficiency strands of understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning."

Unfortunately, it appears that training students skills to follow mathematical procedures is the main teaching strategy in Australian schools and is a documented failing strategy.

The answer is simple - follow the curriculum.

Hi WTF,

Mathematics for me always was a difficult subject.
I had a maths teacher who made things hard for me.
She totally turned me off the subject using techniques
of humiliation which were permissable in classrooms at
the time.

It was years later that I discovered that I wasn't as
stupid as she made me out to be in that subject.

However, this taught me how much depends on the quality
of teaching that students receive. Kids can flourish in
the right hands. And qualified and caring teachers can
and do make a difference. But of course that takes
proper school funding, especially in disadvantaged areas
and schools.

I believe that in Singapore and Canada - there's a high
financial investment in their schools. Australia could
take their example if it does not want to lag behind.

Hi Foxy

Always did well at Maths at school, enjoyed most subjects Modern and Ancient History, Geography, etc. Could have done better at English, liked French and later taught myself basic Spanish. In recent years have tried to lean my wife's native tongue, te reo Maori, I have some understanding but to speak it I'm rather poor, although its a very easy language to learn.

One thing you and I have in common, we value education, whereas others here, unfortunately, view education as an evil which has to be suppressed. What they don't understand is, a dollar invested in education today is repaid ten fold tomorrow, where as the same dollar invested in militarism is simply wasted.

"I believe that in Singapore and Canada - there's a high
financial investment in their schools. "

That's wrong. As a percent of GDP Australia spends slightly more on education than Canada and almost twice as much as Singapore. (We had this discussion a little while back where SR tried to fudge the Singapore numbers but finally agreed with the above.)

As with most government spending, the amount spent is rarely decisive. The way its spent is vital. In Australia, while we spend more than most on education, it is spent for the benefit of teachers and administrators rather than the benefit of the students and therefore we end up with shocking bad results.

And as usual, those who don't understand such things think the solution is to spend even more.

Hi Paul,

So glad to hear that you're still involved with education
and learning. Languages have always been a part of my life as well.
Funding does play such an important part in getting good results.

Assoc. Prof. of Education and the future of Schooling at the
University of Melbourne, Glenn Savage has commented on Australia's
new education report saying a grander vision is needed to
address disadvantage - "else we risk another decade merely
tinkering around the edges."

http://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/13/australias-new-education-report-fails-to-target-the-roots-of-structural-inequality-glenn-savage