Minister of Education Senator Milton Scott last night announced the results of the controversial tests for primary two pupils - and said students faired better than those in the US.

He said the results suggested that reduced class sizes in the early years of primary school were having a positive effect on student performance on the Island.

The TerraNova tests were applied to six-year-olds for the first time this year. The students at all Government primary schools were tested in reading, language and mathematics, leading to a wave of criticism from the Bermuda Union of Teachers, some parents, teachers, and former head teachers.

Parents against the tests were even advised to keep their children away from school on the day of examination, which led to 11 students not attending.

However, more than 500 did sit the tests.

The average grade score in reading was 2.3, in language 2.5, and in maths 2.1.

Sen. Scott said in the US the average score was 1.9, meaning Bermuda's students were above average.

He said: "The TerraNova test results show that students in primary two are performing above the US norm in all three subjects tested. This is excellent news.

"Our primary two students achieved results at a level six months ahead of the average American student of the same age in language, four months ahead in reading, and one month ahead in mathematics.

"Looking in more detail at the reading score, students performed at a level five months ahead of the American average in both comprehension and in vocabulary tests.

"These excellent results reflect the considerable investment that the Government has made in the early years of education.

"By the start of the coming school year, we will have invested $3 million in improving the early years of education."

He said most significantly, class sizes had been reduced to an average of 15 students in both primary one and two classes.

By next month, class sizes in primary three will also have been reduced to an average of 15 students.

Sen. Scott also pointed out that computers had been installed in classrooms and new language arts textbooks, math textbooks and supplementary materials had been distributed.

He added: "When we announced that we would test primary two students for the first time this year, some parts of the community questioned whether this was the right decision.

"Parents were even encouraged to keep their children home to avoid the tests. I am pleased to say that parents did not take this irresponsible advice - out of a total of 536 primary two students, only 11 did not attend school on the first day of the tests.

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