Effectiveness and Equity in Primary Science and Mathematics Education in the Nordic Countries: A Review of the Book by Teig et al. (2024)

Abstract

How effective is science and mathematics teaching in the Nordic countries? And how equitable is it? These are central questions of the book Effective and equitable teacher practice in mathematics and science education: A Nordic perspective across time and groups of students by Nani Teig, Trude Nilsen, and Kajsa Yang Hansen. In a collection of articles, the TIMSS data from 2011 to 2019 from the Nordic countries except Iceland are analysed using a quasi-longitudinal approach. The analyses show that equity in science and mathematics education is increasingly challenged, thereby endangering the Nordic model in education. It is a must read for policy makers and researchers who seek to make the education systems of the Nordic countries resilient in face of present and future challenges, to ensure equity and quality education.

Keywords

• large scale assessment
• achievement
• science education
• mathematics education
• equity