Local students rank third in global science and math assessment

Macau students ranked among the world’s strongest performers in science, mathematics and reading in the latest international assessment, while placing first globally in computational problem-solving, according to results released Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The PISA 2025 assessment covered 91 countries and economies and evaluated 15-year-old students on their ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world problems.

Macau ranked third globally in both science and mathematics and fifth in reading. It also ranked first in the newly introduced computational problem-solving component of the OECD’s “Learning in the Digital World” assessment, reflecting students’ ability to use digital tools to solve complex problems.

The results were released Sept. 8 by the OECD. Researchers at the University of Macau’s Educational Testing and Assessment Research Centre, which has overseen Macau’s participation in PISA, said the city’s performance had remained relatively stable across successive assessment cycles, even as results in many OECD countries have declined in recent years.

Macau also recorded a relatively small gap between high- and low-performing students. Researchers said students’ socioeconomic backgrounds had a comparatively modest effect on academic performance, pointing to what they described as a combination of educational quality and equity.

A significant share of students reached the highest proficiency levels in the STEM-related subjects. Some 14.5% of local students achieved Levels 5 or 6 in science, compared with 28.8% in mathematics and 53.7% in computational problem-solving.

At the other end of the scale, the proportion of students performing below Level 2 – the baseline proficiency level – remained among the lowest internationally, according to the research team.

Researchers attributed Macau’s results in part to the education system’s emphasis on STEM subjects, reasoning and digital literacy. Students demonstrated skills in scientific inquiry, mathematical reasoning, programming and computational thinking, including the ability to develop, test and refine digital models and programs.

The research team said these skills could provide students with a foundation for adapting to technological changes and emerging career demands.

It also credited sustained government investment and education reforms, as well as the allocation of resources to schools and support for students at different stages of development.

The researchers said the city’s education system had sought to balance academic achievement with student well-being, with schools and teachers providing structured learning environments and support tailored to students’ needs.

The OECD’s PISA assessment is conducted every three years and is designed to measure how well 15-year-old students can use what they have learned in reading, mathematics and science to address challenges beyond the classroom.

60 teachers and students attend Tiangong Class

A delegation of 60 Macau teachers and students attended the “Tiangong Class · Hong Kong-Macau Designated Session” in Hong Kong Tuesday, with the education bureau saying it would adapt the session materials into videos for local science education, while the Macau Science Center plans to organize related exhibitions and school visits.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) director Kong Chi Ming said the “Tiangong Class” combined science, physics, chemistry and other areas of knowledge in a way that closely aligned with classroom teaching, effectively sparking students’ interest in space science.

He said the bureau would turn the session content into short video materials for integration into Macau’s science education system, while the Macau Science Center would hold related exhibitions and school outreach activities to further increase students’ enthusiasm for science.

Kong emphasized that the event was of great significance, describing it as “both a vivid science and technology lesson and a deeply meaningful patriotic education class.” The session featured real-time dialogue and interaction with astronauts, who answered questions from students.

The bureau organized a delegation of 60 teachers and students from 15 schools to attend the event in Hong Kong, while also arranging for all primary and secondary schools in Macau to watch the live broadcast on campus, helping young students gain a deeper understanding of the country’s remarkable achievements in space technology.

Notably, the event was led by the Shenzhou-23 astronaut crew, including mission commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Lai Ka-ying, and featured pre-study sessions, a “Tiangong Class” demonstration, a “space-Earth dialogue” and a “Hong Kong-Macau family letter” sharing segment. Yl