Singapore tops the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, surpassing Ireland, Hong Kong, and Russia, yet fewer students report enjoying reading.
SINGAPORE: Students in Singapore have emerged as the top readers in the world, according to the latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). The Ministry of Education (MOE) reported on May 16 that students performed exceptionally well in both foundational and advanced reading skills, demonstrating their ability to navigate a digital environment with ease.
The study found that Singapore students are also adept at making simple judgments about the credibility of information, as well as evaluating perspectives, bias, and points of view in various texts. Conducted every five years, the PIRLS study measures students’ reading literacy abilities.
The 2021 study, conducted on a representative sample of 6,719 Primary 4 students from all 183 primary schools in Singapore, showed that the country’s students moved up to first place, surpassing their 2016 position of second place. Ireland ranked second, followed by Hong Kong and Russia in third and fourth places, respectively.
Notably, more than one-third (35%) of Singapore’s students achieved the highest “Advanced” international benchmark in 2021, compared to the international median of just 7%. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the concerted efforts by schools and teachers to support students’ learning, even amidst the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite concerns that students from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds might have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, the study found that the reading performance gap between students from lower-SES and higher-SES homes remained unchanged between 2016 and 2021.
Additionally, 84% of Singapore students expressed confidence in their reading abilities, surpassing the international average of 78%. The 2021 study also noted an increased level of engagement in reading lessons compared to previous years, with students demonstrating greater participation in the learning process.
The assessment included two key components: digital reading texts and tasks, designed to evaluate students’ abilities to interpret and critique online information, and a questionnaire about their attitudes toward reading and their learning contexts.
A Love for Reading
While Singapore’s students top the global reading charts, the study revealed a concerning decline in the enjoyment of reading among students. The proportion of students who reported enjoying reading a lot fell to 51% in 2021, down from 55% in 2016 and 60% in 2011. Similarly, only 48% of students’ parents reported that their children enjoyed reading a lot, compared to 53% in 2016 and 60% in 2011.
The MOE suggests that this decline may be partially driven by the rise of alternative forms of entertainment, such as social media, which have become more prevalent in recent years.
At Casuarina Primary School, students are engaging with digital books on an interactive platform, allowing them to listen to and record themselves reading. These digital books are accessible from home and promote collaborative learning, which excites students to read more. However, Vice-Principal Steven Wong emphasized that nothing compares to the experience of reading a physical book, which is why the school also rotates physical books as part of its structured reading program.
Xishan Primary School focuses on nurturing a love for reading while also ensuring students are equipped with digital literacy and media literacy skills. The school introduces concepts such as identifying fake news and determining relevant information, preparing students to be discerning readers in the digital era.
