The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development survey of 14,500 Australian students from 750 schools revealed that Australian students rank 13th for motivation out of more than 50 countries.
It found that female students were more motivated than their male counterparts in Australian schools while students from migrant families were more achievement-oriented than those born in Australia.
However, the survey also revealed a gulf in motivation in different geographic areas.
Students from high socio-economic, urban areas were more likely to record high scores when responding to statements such as "I want to be one of the best in my class" and "I see myself as an ambitious person" while indigenous students were more likely to record low scores.
Sue Thomson, deputy chief executive of the Australian Council for Educational Research, said that disadvantage in education needed to be addressed.
"The data show that disadvantage associated with an indigenous background, low socioeconomic status and living in a rural or remote area is related to lower motivation levels," she said in a media release on Tuesday.
"This is important because motivation to achieve plays a key role in educational success, and in an individual`s drive to set and attain education and career goals."
Students from Australia`s two largest states, New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, were more motivated than those from the other four states or two territories.
Those in Tasmania, Australia`s smallest state, were the least motivated with only 64 percent of students saying they wanted to be one of the best students in their class compared to 79 percent in NSW.
Reporter: Chaidar Abdullah
Editor: Eliswan Azly
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
