SLOVAK pupils came out as just average in the latest Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) survey.
They demonstrated average knowledge and skills in mathematics, reading, natural sciences and problem-solving, according to the newly published report.
250,000 15-year olds from 40 countries took part in the survey, carried out under the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), including the 30 OECD member states, the TASR news agency reported.
Once again, Finnish pupils came out on top, finishing first in mathematics, natural sciences and reading, though they blotted their copybook by finishing only second in problem-solving.
In maths, South Korea, the Netherlands and Japan took places two, three and four; in natural sciences, Japan, South Korea and Australia; and in reading, South Korea, Canada and Australia.
South Korean pupils were the best problems-solvers, while Japanese and New Zealanders came third and fourth.
Slovak pupils ranked 18th in maths and natural sciences, 27th in reading and 20th in problems solving.
Among pupils from the Visegrad Four countries - the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary - the Czechs achieved the best results, coming 10th in maths, 6th in natural sciences, 20th in reading and 12th in problem-solving.
Slovak Education Minister Martin Fronc pointed out that Slovakia had done better than average in terms of the percentage of pupils scoring less than average.
