MATHEMATICS IN MALTA - Education

MATHEMATICS IN MALTA

THE NATIONAL MATHEMATICS SURVEY OF YEAR 1 PUPILS

Charles Mifsud Sharon Richard Dougal Hutchison Rowena Grech

Education Division, Department of Planning and Development, Malta

Typeset at Media Centre Publications Printed at Media Centre, Blata l-Bajda

Published in 2005

Copyright ? Education Division, Malta and where appropriate

the Literacy Unit and NFER, UK

Cover photos: Ms Sharon Richard Pupils from Carmela Sammut Primary School A, Mosta.

CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Mathematics in Malta : the National Mathematics Survey of Year I pupils / authors, Charles Mifsud ... [et al.]. ? Floriana, Malta : Education Division, 2005

p. : ill., charts ; cm.

Includes bibliography

ISBN 99909-74-19-5

1. Mathematics ? Study and teaching 2. Education ? Primary - Malta 3. Education ? Malta

I. Malta. Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment. Education Division II. University of Malta. Faculty of Education. Literacy Unit III. National Foundation for Educational Research (United Kingdom) IV. Mifsud, Charles

DDC: 510.0704585

LC: QA14.M3M3

Melitensia Classification: MZV5

Table of Contents

List of Tables

vi

List of Figures

vii

The Project Team

viii

Acknowledgements

ix

Executive Summary

x

Introduction

xiv

Chapter 1 - Background

1

1.1 Mathematics in Maltese Primary Schools

1

1.2 The Language Issue

2

1.3 Aims of the Study

4

Chapter 2 ? Survey Administration

6

2.1 Tests

6

2.1.1 A Brief Outline of the Mathematics 5 Test

7

2.1.2 Instruction Booklets

9

2.2 Pilot Study

9

2.2.1 Aims of the Pilot Study

9

2.2.2 Method

9

2.2.3 Main Findings

10

2.3 Other Research Instruments

10

2.3.1 School Questionnaire

10

2.3.2 Pupil Data Form

10

2.3.3 Test Administrator's Questionnaire

11

Chapter 3 ? Methodology

12

3.1 Method

12

3.2 Scoring the Tests

14

iv Mathematics in Malta

Chapter 4 ? Findings

15

4.1 Test Administrator's Questionnaire

15

4.2 Reliability

15

4.3 Raw Scores

16

Chapter 5 - Findings: Multilevel Modelling

18

5.1 Multilevel Modelling

18

5.2 Background Variables

18

5.2.1 Pupil Variables

22

5.2.1.1 Gender

22

5.2.1.2 Age

22

5.2.1.3 First Language

22

5.2.1.4 Special Educational Needs

23

5.2.1.5 Pre-school

23

5.2.2 School Variables

23

5.2.2.1 Type of School

23

5.2.2.2 Districts

23

5.2.2.3 Number of Classes

23

5.2.2.4 Class Size

24

5.2.3 Home Variables

24

5.2.3.1 Family Structure

24

5.2.3.2 Mother's Education

24

5.2.3.3 Father's Education

24

5.2.3.4 Father's Occupation

24

5.2.3.5 Mother's Occupation

25

5.3 Further Analyses

25

5.3.1 Overall Results by Process Category

25

5.3.2 Results for Each Process Category by Gender 26

5.3.3 Results for Each Process Category by Age

26

5.3.4 Results for Each Process Category

by First Language

27

5.3.5 Results for Each Process Category

by Special Educational Needs

28

5.5.6 Results for Each Process Category by Island 29

Chapter 6 - Discussion

30

6.1 Class size

31

6.2 Making International Comparisons

33

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